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Food Pantry celebrates five years of operation
BY ELLIS CUEVAS
Through the combined efforts of many, the Hancock County Food Pantry has completed five years of operation.
During that time, the Food Pantry has helped 4,500 deserving families, which included some 15,000 individuals.
“The Food Pantry’s only expense is the telephone bill. The organization is operated by some 62 volunteers, and that is what they are—volunteers,” said Mrs. Ina Piazza, president.
The Food Pantry is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, in the rear of the Hancock County Courthouse.
The Hancock County Board of Supervisors provides the Food Pantry with office space, along with help from Bobby Boudin, Civil Defense director; and Jay Marsh, fire marshal.
Area churches, businesses, individuals, F.E.M.A. and the United Way of Hancock County all pro' ide money and food items necessary for the organization to continue to provide for needy people.
In October of each year there is a children’s drive for food at the various schools. There are volunteers who help collect the items from the schools, such as Coast Electric Power Association employees. This is what makes one appreciate everyone’s concern, Mrs. Piazza stated.
Area churches have special drives for donations to the Food FOOD—Page 5A
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Pantry.
On a regular basis, Delchamps furnishes rolls and bread, while Honey Cream ponuts provides sweets, and Jitney Jungle gives a special Idiscount on food purchases.
With younger citizens in mind, Bookends Book Store collects used books to be given to children who accompany their parents. Others provide crayo-las and coloring books for the,
youngsters.
One resident provided an air conditioner, while another contributed a heater for the Food Pantry’s headquarters.
Piazza said, “It is definitely a community effort which has kept the Food Pantry going the past five years. The whole county needs a heartfelt Thank You for the support and love given to the Food Pantry.”
It is hard to believe that the Hancock County Food Pantry has already been in operation for five years.
The organization has helped 4,500 families in need and all the work has been done by volunteers.
The operators of the Food Pantry are all volunteers, and they are really providing a needed service for our community.
So many in our community are really involved with the Food Pantry’s operation, such as the churches, schools, businesses, and individuals, all who make contributions in one way or another.
The Food Pantry, too, is an agency of the United Way of Hancock County, so this adds a lot of folks helping.
It is 3stimated some 15,000 people have been helped by the Food Pantry in just five years, many of them children, and I am happy we have such a caring group in our county.
I want to thank everyone for caring for those in need.