Food Bank Grand Opening

Many people were on hand Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the grand opening of Jasper County’s new community food bank which is located in the basement of the Chinese restaurant on the Square.

Access to the building is a side door in the alley between City Hall and the Chinese Restaurant. The food bank is currently open three days a week and plans to service about 200 people each week that they are open. The food bank is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Juanita Davis (center, cutting ribbon), Director of the food bank told the crowd of the great accomplishment this endeavor has been. She said that in the short time the food bank has been open Monticello has become the top out of 12 other counties in food distribution other than Macon.

“That is a great thing, and also it is not so good,” said Mrs. Davis. She noted that while doing a great thing with the food bank, that number shows the amount of need in our community. Mrs. Davis was sure to point out all of the volunteers some of which have served over 1,000 hours of their own time to make daily operations continue. Jason Parr, board member, also noted the additional board members that were able to make the operations possible.

He recognized Dr. Bob Whitmire, John DeGarmo, Kim McMichael, Rev. Jimmy Horton, Dr. John Brown, Mayor Glenn Newsome, Rindy Trouteud, Melissa Strozier, Diana Marino, Chief Bobby Norris, Steve Williams, Salvador Lemus, Juanita Thompson, and Tracey Norton. Mrs. Davis said that her Santa letter must have worked, because a number of community churches and other affiliates have come on board to pledge donations to help out as well.

Anyone interested in volunteering can report directly to the food bank entrance.