by Joyce Mills
As winter seems to really be gone and beautiful green shades are appearing on trees and shrubs and the early buds and flowers are bursting with bright colors, many are still faced with that awful thing called hunger. It is reported that more than half of those who visit a food pantry have worked a full time job in the past 6 months. Yet, increased cost of living and industry-wide layoffs have forced people to face the impossible decision between feeding their families and keeping the lights on.
Our backpack food shoppers buy much of the food supplies from the Mountaineer Food Bank located in Gassaway, WV. Each month the Food Bank delivers ordered items to Beckley. This is such a great help because this Food Bank actually has child friendly food for backpacks. It also means that the Backpack Ministry is a 501(c)3 organization that relies on donations from you and the Food Bank.
Often times, pantries target the senior and adult community. Mountaineer Food Bank has several agencies that sponsor weekend meals for younger students. They have also launched two high school pantries in the area being served. According to a report released by Feeding America, West Virginia has 89,900 children who suffer from food insecurity. It is still estimated that 1 out of every 5 children does not have enough to eat. When will this number ever change?
Without your generous donations of needed food and the monetary donations, First Baptist could not provide weekend food for 19 children. Thank you for helping to fight hunger in Beckley and specifically, Beckley Elementary School.
For the month of May, cans of Beanie Weenies are needed. Just place your donations on the back counter in the church kitchen. Thanks!