December 13, 2023
Food, Santa's Toy Shop, and Brrrrrrrr...Yes a cold blustery morning with a pantry filled with volunteers, food, and toys! The 150 neighbors were warmly welcomed representing 600 family members and 13 new families. Our volunteers arrived early to "man their stations" and share in the holiday spirit with our neighbors. Lois throughout the year, stores the many generous donations from our community and individuals to provide a Santa's toyshop visit. When they say a picture is worth a 1000 words...the look on our neighbors children's faces says it all. Our sincere gratitude goes out to donors near and far in appreciation for these toys.
Another highlight of this week was Henderson County Hunger Coalition awarding us a grant to exclusively provide support for the purchase of food for county residents in food crisis. The Coalition raises funds through a "Hunger Walk." Funds are distributed through a grant process to nonprofit charitable agencies. With this grant, we are able to continue our goal of providing 11 meals or 3 1/2 days of food each week.
Our Garden Master, Doug Kearney, announces the opportunity to assist in harvesting lettuce on December 29 at 8:30 in the hoophouse. Hope you'll join us for fellowship and picking the two rows of lettuce.
Donations this week included Bimbos, and City Bakery with bread and bakery items. Bright Farms donated 25 cases of salad. Other donors include Flavor-First-tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, Wal-Mart and Big Lots, misc items and food, Project Dignity-feminine products, Humane Society- dog/cat food and Milk Co-milk. Calvary Episcopal, Nativity Lutheran, Fletcher UMC, the Tabernacle of Praise Churches, and other anonymous donors contributed their time, food, and misc. items during the week.
On behalf of the Executive Committee, thank you to our volunteers and our area churches, civic groups, local merchants, and families for all you do to feed our community helping to reduce food insecurity. We thank you and appreciate your food and monetary donations.
