Greenup — Two weeks ago, the call went out to Greenup Countians: Hunger in their county is a problem that won’t go away without their help.
The bulging shelves at Helping Hands of Greenup County show that county residents listened — and gave.
A food drive netted more than 14,000 pounds of food, with another trailerload yet to unload and add to the total, said Tammy Steele, director of the Greenup Homeless Education program.
More food would be welcome and is still needed, but right now what Helping Hands needs is some actual helping hands — to sort and put the food into suitable storage until it is ready to distribute.
Steele knows that to some extent, the usual holiday-season generosity kicked in and prompted some donations. She is convinced, however, that many donors responded to her hopeful message: that just a little bit of help from a whole lot of people can go a long way toward feeding the masses.
The stories have been coming in with the food:
‰The pastor who challenged his congregation to buy two of everything for Thanksgiving dinner, one for their own families and one to donate.
‰The interdepartmental challenge at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital that yielded a mountain of food.
‰The similar challenge at the Greenup County Courthouse and satellite offices in Flatwoods and South Shore that brought in even more.
Other churches and businesses issued similar challenges, she said.
Her Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week campaign worked, she believes.
“I had no idea people would respond the way they did ... I think people are becoming more aware,” Steele said.
What they need to be aware of chiefly is that hunger is a year-round problem and that shelves don’t stay full without sustained giving.
“People bring food all Christmas long, but when you hand that out, it doesn’t take long to go,” said Wetzel “Junior” Mayse, a volunteer at Helping Hands.
Helping Hands hopes to shine a similar light on other needs in the county, said director Scarlet Grubb. She hopes to organize another awareness campaign around what she calls “a year of possibilities.”
She can think of a few just off the top of her head.
With enough donations, it’s possible that everyone in Greenup County could have at least one warm blanket.
The county could have a temporary shelter or transitional housing, if enough people helped out.
She is having a meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Flatwoods Giovanni’s for anyone willing to help with ideas or work.
Any community member wanting to work with Steele’s homelessness task force may call her at (606) 473-1447. The group has about 20 members and Steele plans to start in January to work on community needs.
Those willing to help sort the food at Helping Hands may call (606) 473-6916, Grubb said. The organization, based at 412 Main St. in Greenup, will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Kevin Goldy
-
Kevin Goldy
-
Kevin Goldy
Discussion
Hunger relief appeal yields donations
- Local News
-
-
Pooches take to the street in Dog Jog
They were running with the big dogs Saturday in Grayson.
-
A Smith Branch Legacy
Six generations of Robinsons have called Smith Branch home.
-
Court battle heating up over stretch of blacktop
The court fight is just heating up over a block-long stretch of blacktop in Grayson.
More parties are piling on in the lawsuit accusing Grayson of passing an illegal ordinance to take ownership of the pavement. -
Regional jails ‘a total failure’
As the debate over a proposal to create a new Northeast Regional Jail Authority continues, some officials with the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville are watching closely.
-
Beshear in West Liberty to help in tornado recovery
State legislatures and Gov. Steve Beshear gathered in West Liberty on Friday to sign three bills that will help in the recovery efforts of the tornado-stricken town.
-
Students get more than a scoop’s share
There’s nothing more refreshing than ice cream on a hot day, and no one knows that better than the principal of Hager Elementary School in Ashland.
-
2 school aides part of drug arrests
Two elementary school aides and three other people were arrested Thursday in a Carter County drug investigation.
-
5K run main attraction for Final Friday in Greenup
Greenup’s Final Friday included the usual live entertainment and car show, but a 5K run also attracted many to town Friday evening.
-
Fla.-to-Boyd drug ring defendants plead guilty
One of the eight people charged in an alleged Florida-to-Boyd County pill-trafficking ring pleaded guilty Thursday and a second is expected to do the same next week.
A third defendant in the case pleaded guilty May 18. -
Carter school layoffs possible
Carter County schools are looking at deep budget cuts and layoffs.
About 20 may lose their jobs this year, treasurer Andy Lyons said. Lyons spoke to a reporter Thursday after presenting a tentative budget to the school board last week. - More Local News Headlines
-
Pooches take to the street in Dog Jog
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
