APRIL 9, 2009 ISSUE
Support the Hunger and Health Coalition This Easter Season
The mission of the Hunger and Health Coalition is to relieve poverty and hunger in a compassionate manner for families and individuals who are experiencing economic hardship and food shortages. With today’s economy tightening at an alarming rate, many families will have to make difficult choices—which bills to pay this month, where is the cheapest gas and do we take a sick child to the doctor or hope they get better on their own? Food seems to have fallen to the bottom of this list of priorities.
The Hunger and Health Coalition of Boone says nothing is more important to the community than food and health. Assistance offered by the coalition includes a variety of food programs, medicine and referrals to many other community resources. The Hunger and Health Coalition is present to aid in emergency needs, to act as a community resource and assist individuals and families in finding more permanent solutions to their current situations.
The food program offered for 2009 provides participants with 1 box of non-perishable items such as canned foods, and a fair portion of meat every 30 days. There is also food available for pick-up on a daily basis. The daily pick-up options include repacked meals made from cooked, unsold food donated by local restaurants and grocery stores. Breads, fruits, and vegetables are also available on a daily basis.
ASU donates a large portion of cooked food each day that helps the Coalition keep up with the recent increase in demand. Grocery stores like Lowe’s and Ingles donate a large portion of repacked meals, fresh fruit, vegetables, meats and some bread. When it comes to bread, Panera Bread and Mountain Bagels keep the Coalition stocked with donations of daily excess inventory.
Until recently this program served not only Watauga County, but reached as far as Ashe and Avery counties. Due to a nearly 35 percent increase of assistance in past months, the Coalition now serves only Watauga County residents with its current resources.
“In the past, our anonymous assistance programs have been comprised of lower income clients, but now there are an equal number of middle income clients to serve also. We currently are providing 600 boxes of food every month, which feed about 1,500 people. This time last year we were supplying only 375 boxes monthly. We will need more food supplies badly in order to keep up with the growing need,” said Programs and Services Coordinator Kim Winebarger
Much of the Coalition’s funding comes from United Way donations within Watauga County. Donations can be made in the form of cash, time (volunteering) and, of course, non-perishable food. A call has been made to local farmers, big and small, to donate any excess food from their gardens to help keep up with intensifying demand.
The Coalition also offers a medical program. Located in the same building, a free community clinic is open Wednesdays from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. After leaving the free clinic, patients can stay on-site to have their prescriptions filled at the pharmacy. A surprising $100,000 worth of prescription drugs were filled last month alone, at no cost to the patients.
If you would like to make a donation from your garden or donate non-perishable items, food can be dropped off at the Hunger and Health Coalition, located at 141 Health Center Drive in Boone, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 828-262-1628, click to www.hungercoalition.com or email hungerc@bellsouth.net.
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