Feed the Kids & Salvation Army to Merge
December 12th, 2016 by iPhone
As the summer of 2016 unfolded, two different charities found themselves struggling to help those in need.
The Drew County Salvation Army’s leader got married and moved away. Without leadership, the Advisory Council disbanded. Additionally, the First Presbyterian Church (FPC) Feed the Kids program did not have funds to provide for all their clients, yet the board of directors agreed to continue to feed as many children as they could on limited funding.
“The Salvation Army had funds with no volunteers and FPC’s Feed the Kids program had an active board but needed a funding mechanism. The outlook for both charities looked bleak in late August,” stated Arlene Russell, an original member of the Drew County Salvation Army.
The Drew County Salvation Army was formed in 1999. There are only three original Advisory Council members who remain active today and have shepherded the local chapter since its inception. The service unit primarily provides utility assistance to those in need. The original council members include Arlene Russell, Pat Johnston, and Linda Magness. The council attempted to reorganize and recruit new volunteers to continue providing utility assistance. Unfortunately, the efforts were met with little success.
An idea came about that would allow both agencies to continue their mission of helping those in need.
“I knew The Salvation Army could help feed hungry children in our community in lieu of utility assistance as there are other options for help with utility payments,” said Russell.
At a meeting in late September, The Salvation Army of Drew County and the First Presbyterian Church’s Feed the Children program decided a partnership would do the most good for the community. Tears of joy from both organizations accompanied the announcement of the partnership.
The Feed the Kids program started with eight children in the Fall of 2006 at Drew County Elementary School as a test to see if there were indeed hungry children in the community per Allison Collins, who chairs the program today. In Arkansas, one in four children are food insecure.
Today, the Feed the Kids program feeds 150 children in both Monticello and Drew County Schools. Snack packs are delivered to the respective schools each week which are then distributed to the children. Pre-K through 8th grade children is the target. The children are referred by teachers, counselors, principals and the students themselves. “We do not know names or races, and only a few stories. We do know that these kids are hungry and we can help in some small way,” said Collins and Nicholson.
The snack packs are kid friendly, nutritious and easily opened. They include: two main meals, two breakfasts, one snack, two fruits, one dessert and one drink. Additionally, as funds are available, a New Testament Bible is included in the Fall. Most items are purchased in bulk from Sam’s Club and Save-A-Lot. The cost of one snack pack is $7. Snack packs are packaged the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Monticello with the assistance of churches and community organizations in the community.
Members of the Drew County Salvation Army Advisory Council and First Presbyterian’s Feed the Kids include Allison Collins, President, Ember Davis, Secretary; and Linda Magness as Treasurer. Joe Finley serves as The Salvation Army liaison. Other board members include Lori Fallon, Bonnie Hicks, Renee Holland, and Tricia and Dr. Julia Nicholson. For more information, please contact Allison Collins at 870-367-2987.
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