Combat Hunger!

The 2nd Annual Combat Hunger has been put to rest, and I can say it was a HUGE success! I must first say thanks to Melissa Eads with Kroger, and all the Clarksville area Kroger store managers for the support of Combat Hunger, as well as the many Girl Scouts who came out Saturday.

Just over a week ago we began collecting non-perishable food items to benefit the food pantry at Urban Ministries. If you are not familiar with Urban Ministries, they are a community organization that seeks to provide whatever assistance an individual or family might need, from food to clothing, to diapers. They make it very easy for people to get assistance, and it is provided immediately.

With unemployment being at an all time high, Urban Ministries has seen the demands for help steadily rise, while donations have tapered off. Many of the people who seek food boxes at Urban Ministries have jobs, but perhaps can only find part-time work, or they are in low-paying jobs that don't even cover the basic necessities of life.

Growing up there were many times I can remember that we did not have food in the house. I personally know the feeling of opening a cupboard and there being nothing there. I once upon a time was one of those children that would watch other kids at lunchtime enviously. In my world, a trip to McDonald's was equal to Charlie's Steak House. That is why this project is so near and dear to my heart.

I am proud to report that thanks to everyone's efforts, on Saturday we collected FIFTEEN grocery carts FULL of food, including fifteen or sixteen turkeys and six or seven hams! That especially was meaningful, as last year Urban Ministries received very few turkeys and hams to give out for Thanksgiving. Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting one of the people benefiting from your donations. She is a single mom with three kids that weren't expecting a Thanksgiving dinner or turkey.

Just as we started to unload the director said the lady didn't have a car and would not be able to get back before Thanksgiving, so she let me give her a turkey. When I handed the bird over, the sweet lady dropped to her knees and cried. I was speechless from how it humbled me. Tears filled my eyes, we hugged, and I prayed that God would watch over her and her kids. She said getting that turkey was going just the hope she needed yesterday to keep on going.

It strikes me how the littlest, simplest things we so often take for granted mean so much to someone in need. I can easily go buy my turkey this year, but I'll never forget when I was just like that lady, wondering where the next meal would come from. So I thank each and every one of you that donated from the very bottom of my heart. I thank you for your generosity in trying economic times, and for caring so deeply about your felllow man. I look forward to the 3rd Annual Combat Hunger next year, and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!