On Tuesday in front of a decorated Christmas tree from Tree of Memories at Clark Funeral Home in Neosho, Fred Clark and the funeral homes presented a $3,000 check to the Newton County Food Basket Brigade committee.
“This year – and this is an all time record – they (Clark Funeral Homes) are presenting the basket brigade a check for $3,000,” said Dave Winegardner, publicity for the food basket brigade. “And Fred tells me that there will be a little bit more coming later on.”
Tuesday was the official kick off of the 22nd annual Newton County Food Basket Brigade.
“Starting today, we ask the public to donate food and / or cash, hopefully both, so that we can reach our goal this year which is enough food to feed at least 1,200 families,” Winegardner said. “Last year, through the efforts of these people and hundreds and hundreds of others who work to make the basket brigade a success, we fed over 1,100 families."
Aside from donating the check, since brigade’s inception, the funeral homes help in another capacity.
“On Dec. 19 (distribution day), we take our vans and deliver to the homebound,” said Clark. “It is wonderful to go to the homes and they are thankful for that.”
But Tuesday’s event also featured other announcements about the brigade.
Winegardner noted other businesses have donated to the cause. Moark Productions has agreed to again supply a minimum of one dozen eggs for each family certified to receive food from the food basket brigade. A similar commitment last year resulted in the distribution of more than 12,000 eggs. Christine and Kenny Dwyer, longtime supporters of the brigade, have committed $5,000 to the 2009 drive through their associated companies; Dwyer Enterprises, Electrical Supply, Inc. and Neosho Industrial Supply & Communications.
“Additionally, more than $4,000 in other cash, plus the $3,000 you see here (noting the Clark Funeral Homes check), have been received as of Monday,” Winegardner said.
The donations announced Tuesday mean the food basket brigade has already collected more than 10,000 pounds of food for distribution to the area’s needy on Saturday, Dec. 19.
“We are well on our way of toward our goal of 110,000 pounds, but we still have a long, long way to go,” said Winegardner.
The Newton County Food Basket Brigade’s main goal is to provide enough food for a traditional Christmas dinner plus basic staples to last up to two weeks for Newton County residents certified as low income, disadvantaged, disabled, and/or elderly in need of assistance. Virtually all individuals and families certified to receive food through the Basket Brigade are also receiving assistance from D.F.S., Economic Security Corporation, Neosho Crosslines, the Help Center and other relief agencies. This assistance is minimal, at best, and provides nothing extra for the holidays.
Terry Cook, president of the food basket brigade, noted, “It has always been our goal to ensure that nobody goes hungry at Christmas and this year, that means we’ll again have to have enough food to feed an estimated 1,200 families.”
Donations of food and money to buy food are now being accepted at the Newton County Armory, corner of Brook and Jefferson streets in Neosho. Various groups and organizations across Newton County are also collecting food, including the managers and employees at Lowe’s and 1st Choice Chiropractic in Neosho. Large cardboard collection boxes are being distributed to many other area businesses and industries. And students in almost all schools in the county are participating in school-organized food collection drives.
Important dates
Deadline for applications is Dec. 10. Previous year’s certifications are not carried forward from year to year.
County-wide door-to-door solicitation: Saturday, Dec. 12
Last day for donations: Dec. 17
Food distribution at Newton County Armory: Saturday, Dec. 19
The Food Basket Brigade began in 1988. Since then, the charity has collected and distributed more than 2.5 million pounds of food.
Neosho, Mo. —
