Annual Hunger Hurts Food Drive, coordinated by Berea College’s Center for Excellence in Learning through Service (CELTS), in collaboration with Berea Faith Community Outreach (BFCO), will run from October 22 to 29, 2016.
Beginning on October 22nd, volunteers will distribute brown paper bags, donated by Kroger, to local households. Community members can help by filling the bags with non-perishable food and toiletry items and placing them near their front door by 9 a.m. on October 29th, for volunteers to pick up.
As the Berea Community Food Bank gets settled in its new home at 108 Parkway Ave, CELTS’ goal is to surpass last year’s collection of 7,500 pounds of food. This collection supports more than 700 families throughout Southern Madison County in putting food on their table throughout the winter. Many individuals, churches, schools, businesses, and organizations contribute food and money throughout the year. Volunteers with the Hunger Hurts Food Drive feel very excited to be a part of the legacy of contribution to the Berea Community Food Bank.
“This year will make my fourth year volunteering with the Hunger Hurts Food Drive, and it is a great honor to have the opportunity to coordinate this event. Here at CELTS, we encourage students to connect their academic learning with community service in order to be active member of just communities. This event allows students and the community to work side-by-side to alleviate hunger within the Berea community.” – Morgan Stacy, Student Associate for Community Service and coordinator the Hunger Hurts Food Drive.
All donated food will be delivered to the Berea Community Food Bank, which is sponsored by BFCO. The volunteers of the Berea Community Food Bank appreciate all non-perishable food donations and also welcome donations of toiletry items. According to Jerry Workman, Volunteer Coordinator at the Berea Community Food Bank, “the most needed items are salmon, beef stew, tuna, peas, toilet tissue, facial soap, toothpaste, corn meal, hamburger helper, peaches, fruit cocktail, spaghetti, and spaghetti sauce.”
In addition to providing food and toiletry donations, community members will have an opportunity to provide emergency assistance to families needing help with rent and utility bills this winter by supporting Bereans United for Utility and Rent Relief (BUURR), also sponsored by BFCO. More information and an envelope for donations will be attached to the grocery bag that is delivered to local residences.
Residents of southern Madison County who have an emergency food need or would like to request assistance from the BUURR program can call 859-985-1903 for more information.
For more information about the Hunger Hurts Food Drive, or to volunteer, please contact Sheila Lyons at 859-985-3935, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.