Thursday, November 20, 2008-As reported by the Martinsville Bulletin, Debbie Hall, Staff Writer. Volunteers, employees and owners of Eastern EMI Imaging bundled up Wed. to provide food boxes to nearly 600 families.
Volunteers, employees and owners of Eastern Microfilming/EMI Imaging bundled up Wednesday to stand out in the cold and provide food boxes to nearly 600 families.
The Food Pantry and Clothes Closet are held on the third Wednesday of each month, according to David Wright, CEO of the company.
Although the food giveaway always draws a crowd, “this may be more people than we’ve had before,� Wright said as he surveyed the number of vehicles waiting in line Wednesday morning.
“The first car got here at 2:45 this morning� even though boxes are distributed only between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m., said Cynthia Wright, executive vice president.
David Wright estimated 500 families were served at the Bassett site in the former Bassett High School.
A second food pantry also is held on the same day and at the same time at the Charity Primitive Baptist Church near Woolwine, he said. Between 60 and 70 food boxes were distributed there Wednesday.
Wright said he cannot estimate the monthly cost of the food pantry, but members of Charity Primitive Baptist Church fund the largest portion, along with help from three or four other churches.
Churches help fund the food pantry and stock the clothes closet, while company executives and volunteers shop for food, pack nonperishable items into boxes and then bag perishable items and load the boxes into vehicles.
James Esters is among the volunteers. He has helped out for about three months now.
“I just found out about the program from a friend� after moving to the area from New York, and he wanted to do what he could to help, Esters said.
Volunteer Jennie Smith said she has worked at the pantry for about four months and feels “if you’re able to do something for somebody, you ought to do it.�
The Wrights share that sentiment.
Clothes and/or food boxes are provided to anyone who says he or she is in need, David Wright said.
“I believe we give them help and let the Lord deal with� cases of misrepresentation, he added.
Families receiving government assistance such as food stamps qualify for USDA-purchased food, while others receive boxes packed with items bought from Second Harvest, Wright said.
To differentiate, food is packed into different types of boxes that are color-coded so volunteers know who receives which type of box, Wright said. Aside from the cost to buy it — items bought through the USDA program are about half the cost of those purchased from Second Harvest — the food in each box type is virtually identical, he said.
Each family receives 40 to 60 pounds of foods — mainly vegetables and “staple-type, dried food,� such as macaroni, beans and rice, Wright said.
“It’s enough food to feed a family of four for a week� if healthy portions are prepared and served, he said.
While helping direct traffic Wednesday, Wright said he talked to many people and learned that fuel prices have forced families to carpool. As a result, “we’re seeing more cars getting two or three boxes� for the two or three individual families represented, he said.
“I feel bad for all of the people, but I hope we can supply a little bit of the need,� Wright said, as one of about 30 volunteers came to tell him about a woman who donated clothing to the Clothes Closet when she came to pick up a box of food.
Both Wright and volunteers said a spirit of helping is responsible for the continued success of both the pantry and clothes closet.
“When we started out, we saw where we could do this for a month or two,� David Wright said.
That was about 2 1/2 years and countless food boxes ago.
“We just feel blessed to be a part of it,� he said.
