Each year, teams of volunteers distribute grocery bags to the majority of households in the Berea community. Volunteers then gather on the following Saturday to collect filled bags, as well as to sort and shelve the food.
The annual Hunger Hurts Food Drive, coordinated by Berea College’s Center for Excellence in Learning through Service (CELTS), in collaboration with the Berea Faith Community Outreach, will run from Oct. 19 to 26.
Beginning Oct. 19, volunteers will distribute brown paper grocery 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 Oct. 26, for volunteers to pick up.
CELTS’s goal is to surpass last year’s collection of 805 bags of food. This collection will support more than 700 families throughout southern Madison County by putting food on their tables throughout the winter. Many individuals, churches, schools, businesses and organizations contribute food and money throughout the year.
“Hunger is a real issue in the Berea community as well as the global community,” said Alexyss Lindsey, student director and coordinator of the Hunger Hurts Food Drive. “The Hunger Hurts food drive seeks to bring students and community members together in order to ameliorate the issue of hunger in the Berea community.”
All donated food will be delivered to the Berea Community Food Bank. Needed items are listed on the flyer attached to individual bags. Hunger Hurts cannot accept expired food or previously opened food.
“CELTS mission is to empower students to combine what they are learning academically with community service, and therefore create a better world,” Lindsey said. “One way they accomplish this mission is through the food drive. Although I wish the need for food banks would become obsolete because hunger was no longer an issue, I am excited to help coordinate this event and work with the community in order to meet a pressing need. Food is one of people’s most basic needs and we should do what we can to meet that need.”
In addition to food and toiletry donations, community members will have the 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). More information and an envelope for donations also 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 for 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.