tchilicheck.htm

Cook-off donation welcomed by food pantries November 2011

by Staff Writer: Eliot Duke

Times photo | Eliot Duke This year's chili cook-off at First Presbyterian Church raised more than $4,000, upping the amount raised over its six-year history to nearly $25,000. Standing from left are Christine Ramsey of St. Stephen's Progressive Baptist Church; Mike Lamb, pastor at First Presbyterian Church; Terri Nelson of Fairgrove Family Resource Center; chili cook-off founder Phil Griffin; Moses McMillan of His Laboring Few Ministries; and Stephanie Strickland of Cooperative Community Ministry.

In a time when donations are few and far between and area food pantries are having to do so much more with so much less, every little bit helps.

For the past six years, Thomasville's annual Chili Cook-off at First Presbyterian Church has been a vital contributor to four food agencies.

In the wake of what he called the cook-off's best year yet, Phil Griffin, event founder, presented checks for $1,050 to Fairgrove Family Resource Center, His Laboring Few Ministries, Cooperative Community Ministry and St. Stephens Progressive Baptist Church. In the history of the cook-off, Griffin estimates the annual cook-off has raised close to $25,000.

"We feel very fortunate for people to come to our chili cook-off and participate," Griffin said. "These four ministries we try to support take the pennies and really stretch them out. We're proud to be a part of it."

As far as need for food goes, the four organizations face an historic time of unresolved supply and demand. Terri Nelson, executive director of Fairgrove, said her organization runs out of money on a monthly basis and it's a constant struggle to simply keep bare shelves stocked with food. Emergency assistance dollars are down and FEMA funds haven't come through, adding to her struggles. Donations like the one from the chili cook-off play a huge part in helping those in need. Fairgrove is able to purchase food for 19 cents a pound at Second Harvest Food Bank, but without an increase in donations, the money just isn't there.

"This is worst situation we've ever faced," said Nelson. "We don't have enough food and we don't have the funding to purchase more food. This donation is instrumental in helping us keep the doors open and helping us serve the folks who need the help the most. We're giving what we have but we keep running out of food."

Stephanie Strickland, executive director of Coopertive Community Ministry, said donations are so down that money she normally uses for financial assistance is being put toward food purchases, straining an already limited budget.

"I'm buying a lot of food right now," Strickland said. "All donations need to be better than what they are. We saw 26 clients a day for 21 days, and these are new clients. It's hard to meet those demands. There is a concern."

Food banks usually see an uptick in donations as the holidays approach but so far that has yet to happen. If it continues at this pace, Nelson and Strickland fear the increased demand will continue outweighing a very limited supply.

Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.

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