The Daily Times

Empty Pantry Fund provides food for needy Blount County residents at Christmas and gives volunteers and supporters an opportunity to serve the community. For Archie D. Clark, of Maryville, that tradition of giving goes back to the very beginning of EPF in 1952, when The Daily Times and the Maryville/Alcoa Jaycees saw a need and acted to fill it.

“I give a lot of credit to Paul Bales for this thing,” Clark said, referring to the retired Daily Times advertising executive who chaired EPF for more than 50 years. “He’s the hardest worker in it.”

Many other names come to mind as Clark recalls Christmases past — names like Corky Williams, Roy Fox, Milburn Waters — the older generation of volunteers who set an example of service for the younger ones by getting them involved in EPF packing and delivery at very early ages.

“It opened their eyes up to what was happening in Blount County,” Clark said. “So many people don’t believe it’s this way, but you have to get out and see what it is.”

Father to son

He recalled taking his son, Tony Clark, who is now treasurer of EPF, on deliveries to a very rural, impoverished area of Blount County.

“My boy, Tony, when he was about 5, I took him,” Clark said. “We went to this house and he said, ‘Dad, do these people really live this way?’ I said, ‘Yeah, honey, they do.’ I don’t reckon he’s missed a year since then. ... It’s something you’ll never forget.”

Delivering the food baskets and the toys provided through Junior Service League of Maryville’s Toys for Blount County is an important facet, Clark said. “A lot of (recipients) don’t have transportation.”

Clark is no longer physically able to do packing and delivery, but he continues to support Empty Pantry Fund in other ways. He saves money during the year so he can contribute to the fund directly and he participates in other events that also benefit EPF, for example.

He recommends that those who still believe there is little poverty in Blount County should go out and see for themselves.

“The best thing that a person could do is see what it’s all about,” he said. “Go to packing down there (at the Tennessee Army National Guard Armory) that night. If they’re able to push a cart around, that’s a good start. Once you do that, you’ll start climbing up the ladder where you can see what’s going on.”

His favorite part of working with EPF is the blessing of going out and helping people. “Seeing the need of these people, and then supplying it,” he said. “I wish more people would see the need and fill it.”

Donations

Donations to date include:

Balance forward, $45,013.63

Bob and Bell Tipton, $100

Harry and Debra Anderson, $100

In memory of Wade and Mary McDonald and Andy and Ann Whitehead, $50

In honor of Terri Holder, a most generous person herself, by Mary Helen Large, $50

In memory of Mr. Bill Hutson from Blanche K. Lacey, $30

In memory of George T. and Aileene W. Myers, $80

Anonymous, $100

Edith Lynn, $40

Wayne and Bernice Forshay, $50

Happy Birthday, Ed Shore, by the Kidds, $50

In memory of John and Alice Cobble, $50

Harold and Betty Bowman, $50

Anonymous, $50

In memory of Clayton, $50

In memory of French and Margaret Lawson and F.B. and Rosa Ladd by Lynn and Larry Ladd, $50

Robert and Joy Hurm, $40

In memory of Maxine Davis by Dottie, $50

Happy birthday and anniversary, Bob, by Dottie, $100

Lawrence and Bette Brady, $100

In memory of Glenn and Anne Brown by Glenda Drinka, $100

In memory of Howard and Ruth Stephens, $50

Rex and Marilyn Davis, $50

Carolyn Forster, $100

In honor of my husband, Chief Master Sgt. Jim Quiagliana, TANG, 37 years of service, by Janet L. Quagliana, $100

Joe Cunningham, $100

Mt. Vernon Apartments, $100

In memory of my parents, J.F. and Sue Thompson, by B. Susan Thompson, $100

Bill and Peggy Joyce Cardin, $25

Dimas and Melissa Deleon, $100

Freeman and Shirley Buckner, $100

In memory of Gary M. Bell, $50

Norma Booze, $50

Culter Plumbing Company, $150

In memory of the Gilberts and Yellow Cab Coffee House, $20

Brian and Rosemary Barker, $100

Russell and Johnnie Hayes, $100

Anonymous, $100

Donna Alexander, $25

In memory of Harold F. Grahl from the faculty and staff at Porter Elementary School, $25

Anonymous, $35

Vickie Maynard, $50

In memory of Samie Whitehead, $50

In honor of Frank and Juantia Durbino, $50

In honor of my grandchildren: Jaiden and Kagen, with love from Nana, $30

Anonymous, $500

In honor of our grandchildren, by Tim and Terry Buckner, $50

In memory of my dad, Edward G. Russell, by Sharon A. Russell, $25

Robert and Pat Carroll, $100

George and Catherine Tatum, $100

Edith Caldwell, $50

Walter Best, $25

Anonymous, $50

John Carroll, $100

A friend of The Daily Times, $500

Michael and Jo Ann Claypool, $20

Donald and Patricia Castle, $50

Anonymous, $10

John and Marjorie Nance, $150

Anonymous, $50

Ernest and Joyce Frey, $100

In honor of Mr. Jones, faculty and staff of Prospect Elementary School by Jacob Powell, $50

In honor of Prospect Elementary Boys Basketball Team by Coach Scott Powell, $50

In memory of our parents Herman and Anna Hodge and Ellis and Mamie Everett, $100

TOTAL — THANK YOU, $50,043.63