Many families are hungry and hurting

This year, not everyone in Clay County will sit down to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. For some, it will be a meal of Spam, cabbage and beans or maybe not even that. While Thanksgiving marks a festive time of year, the beginning of the holiday season when cold is turned into the warmth of a fireplace, and good cheer abounds, for those who have lost jobs, many of their families will be unable to afford the simplest pleasures of the holiday season.
The Clay County Food Pantry has been helping to fill the void of those having difficulty making ends meet throughout the year.  The Pantry distributes food (one box to a family of 1, 2 or 3) weekly to those who qualify.
Volunteers working there are  trying to make a difference this Thanksgiving by providing turkeys or large hens in the boxes of food that are to be distributed the week before Thanksgiving.  The number of families seeking help from the food pantry has increased dramatically over the past year by at least a third. Currently, the pantry is supplying about 290 boxes of food per week.  Your help is desperately needed to provide these families with turkeys or hens for the Thanksgiving meal.
Please make someone happy this holiday donating a Turkey/s or Hen/s (frozen) to the Food Pantry on any Friday between 9AM or 1PM.  If you want to make a donation, that would also be a blessing to these families who are struggling.  If you are unable to bring your gift to the Pantry on one of these Fridays but could leave a turkey or donation with a food pantry board member please contact Mr. Fred Sickle (828-389-9229).   Let’s make it a “Happy” Thanksgiving, for all.