Winter food drive under way
By Sherrie Norris
The annual winter food drive is under way at the Hunger
and Health Coalition in Boone but, unfortunately, the collection
sites are not overflowing.
This is the busiest time of the year at the agency’s Food
Pantry and by dropping in a few cans of food at any of the sites
listed below, contributors will make a tremendous difference to
those less fortunate.
The Hunger and Health Coalition is a heavily-utilized and very
necessary resource for food and medications for residents in need
in the High Country. Most often, the target population is comprised
of low income families who are in the workforce but still struggling
to make ends meet, said executive director Compton Fortuna.
“Recent economic changes have changed the population we serve,”
she said. “Every day, new faces come in to the office seeking
help. Most of these individuals and families never thought that
they would be asking for help to meet their most basic needs of
food, medication and clothing. As more and more households struggle
to make ends meet, a family’s basic needs are not always
easy to come by. Families are forced to choose between paying
their rent and buying food or medicine.”
The Hunger and Health Coalition exists to help families coping
with these issues, and is honored, Fortuna said, to provide assistance
to those in need.
Established 1982, the non-profit agency has been actively serving
the community for 23 years. Fortuna said that each month, an average
of 400 boxes of food are given out, feeding an average of 1,000
people. “One in every three fed is a child under 18 years
of age.”
Additionally, she said, more than 2,000 meals are repackaged and
distributed, and an average of 750 prescriptions are dispensed.
Thousands of pounds of bread, produce and deli items are also
available to those in need, all made possible through the generosity
of the community, including High Country United Way. To help stretch
their giving arms, drop a few cans in the collection bins or send
a tax-deductible donation to the agency directly.
Bank of America
Bank of Granite
BBT – Hwy 105
Harris Teeter
Henson Chapel Methodist Church
High Country Bank – all locations
High Country Cleaners
Ingles
Rite Aid
Wellness Center
The Hunger & Health Coalition Inc. is located at 141 Health
Center Drive, Boone, NC 28607. For more information, call (828)
262-1628, fax (828) 262-0649, email hungerc@bellsouth.net
or visit online at www.hungercoalition.com.
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