Food Bank Needs Donations
The Jasper County Community Food Bank (JCCFB) received a $2,000 grant from Central GA EMC recently, with the contingency of the grant being that funds would be matched, if not exceeded by local donations.
The plan for the funds is to provide climate control, heating and air, in the food bank. The JCCFB offices are now located in the back of the food bank (downstairs). If there are any additional funds left over, the food bank has another priority, framing the offices. The offices that are now located inside the food bank provide for long term sustainability, says Jason Parr, food bank president.
The goal is to raise $3,000 thus matching the EMC grant and allowing for immediate need of installing the heating and air unit, as the EMC grant allows for only this…the purchase of food and non-perishables will be done with additional monies received.
Monies and food donated are equally important. The food bank, here in Monticello feeds approximately 250 families (which consists of 3.5) people and seniors. That is on average about 2,000 families a month.
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Donations are accepted in every form and can be used for overhead costs as well as to purchase food for the bank. Donations have been given by some local churches, Jasper County High School, and Piedmont Academy.
Deborah King, a Jasper County resident and President of the Turtle Cove POA, has been holding a Turtle Cove community wide food drive, insisting that all residents are involved in donating food and money to the food bank.
This is a strong unity factor between Turtle Cove and Monticello. Smithboro Baptist Church on the east end of the county has hosted a food drive.
The food bank personnel are seeking donations from other local churches and organizations. Mr. Parr said that about 33 percent of the residents that they assist are from the north end of the county, and there is no church in that area donating financially, food items or support.
They also are in desperate need of volunteers. They are seeking youth groups, churches, etc. for their time. Volunteers are needed to help prepare boxes which will benefit the process of pick-up which takes place on Saturday.
Another way to volunteer is on the last Thursday in each month, assistance is needed at the mobile food pantry. The JCCFB can now take any processed meats, such as venison as long as it has been processed by a taxidermist. You can also donate local garden produce from right here in Jasper County, should you have any excess.
The immediate focus of the Food Bank is to meet the CGEMC funds. The goal is $3,000. There is a 90 day deadline so the need is urgent. There is an account set up at Hamilton State Bank for direct donations, or contact Juanita Davis, Executive Director of JCCFB.
The food bank is located across from the City Hall parking lot, behind Great Wall Chinese. Its current hours are Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact Juanita Davis, 706-468-6076 for more information.
