Unemployment big factor for food giveaway
, News Editor
02-03-2010
If the men and women passed cartons of food Tuesday rather than carry them, they would’ve resembled an old-time fire brigade.But it was hunger and not flames that motivated the Harvesters volunteers to haul 7,000 pounds of food into the basement of Fleming Baptist Church for today’s food distribution.
With the state of the economy – high unemployment, foreclosures, children moving back with their parents – has demand increased since Harvesters started here in October 2008?
“Of my, yes,” said pantry director Janice Haynes, a Richmond resident. “It’s nearly doubled, I’d say I think unemployment is the biggest problem.”
And with demand, the need for volunteers and donations has also grown, Haynes says.
Fleming Baptist, a small country church that attracts around 25 worshippers on Sundays, donates its basement and the sweat equity of its preacher, Fred Kelley, to the cause. Two of the principal volunteers, Eugene and Jeanie Wyse, are church members.
Photo: Harvester’s volunteer Larry Thompson, right, on Tuesday morning carried cartons into the basement of Fleming Baptist Church in preparation for today’s food distribution. Thompson, a Camden resident, and other volunteers unloaded a total of around 7,000 pounds of food for needy families in Ray County. Jeanie Wyse, left, also of Camden, unloaded the trailer. (Photo by David Knopf/The Daily News)
Full story is in the Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 edition of The Daily News
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