Food Bank targeted in 250 for 250 Program
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The Bledsoe County Food Bank was selected to receive 12,330 pounds of donated food items by the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints. The church is celebrating the nation’s 250 anniversary by donating 250 truckloads of food to agencies actively engaged in feeding those in need. The program is known as 250 for 250.
On May 16, a semi was unloaded in Ooltewah with 37,000 pounds of non-perishable items and split between agencies in Athens, Cleveland, and Pikeville. Church and Food Bank volunteers had a convoy of trucks and trailers to retrieve hundreds of cases of various canned fruit, vegetables, dry milk, peanut butter, rice, pudding, canned meat, soap, and more, reports Arlin Hale, director with the Bledsoe County Food Bank.
Bledsoe County Food Bank is an inter-faith based organization working with many church denominations and civic organizations to relieve food insecurity in the community. Hale said they depend solely on donations.
“Since we purchased about $3,000 of food on a monthly basis, this food will go a long way in stretching our resources,” said Jacque MacDonald, the Food Bank’s financial officer.
“This will be a two to three month supply of basic staples as we provide groceries to over 350 families per month at three locations,” explained Director Hale. “Over one-third of our items are fresh produce, eggs, meat, and other items purchased from or donated by many local farmers. What we can’t find locally, we purchase from the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.”
Local Food Bank member and Relief Society President of Dayton Ward, Carrie Peters, has been credited with arranging this sizable donation.
“The Lord definitely had a hand in bringing food from Salt Lake City to our tight-knit community here in Pikeville,” said Peters. “When communities unite with love as their driving force, beautiful things happen. Ultimately, these collective efforts mean than many local families will have food on the table.”
The Bledsoe County Community Food Bank, on Cumberland Avenue, is open every Thursday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Special hours of 10:00 a.m. to noon are slated for the first Thursday of the month for those who require extra assistance.
On the first Saturday of the month, a mobile location is set up at Sampson Freewill Baptist Church, at the Bledsoe/Van Buren County line on State Route 30 west of Pikeville.
On the third Saturday of each month, a mobile location is at Frostbite House of Prayer on Summer City Road.
