Thanks to Community Food Connection volunteers Oct. 23
Community Food Connection will say thanks to the many who have contributed to its success at its third annual potluck dinner at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Maryville First United Methodist Church.
It will be a time for volunteers to meet each other. That includes those who help in stocking, handing out food, work to collect donations at the local grocery stores or give of their money to contribute to the success. The community is invited but a head count is needed. Those planning to attend can help by calling Larry Ladd at 984-6688, even up to the day of the event.
Fried and baked chicken will be donated by many local restaurants, along with bread and drinks. Volunteers and others are asked to bring a vegetable, salad or dessert.
Support is strong. Blount County Realtors recently helped raise more than $20,000 for Community Food Connection, not this event.
Started in 1991 and now located at 311 Whitecrest Drive, Maryville, it is open to clients 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Clients receive large paper grocery bags and more every two weeks. The amount of food is in proportion to the size of the family. Community Food Connection often purchases $10,000 to $16,000 in groceries a month for emergency food for its clients.
More than 30 churches, seven civic groups and other groups like Blount County Realtors, Royal Oaks Community, high school students, local business leaders, and many senior citizens and other individuals help throughout the year.
For the past 57 months, the Community Food Connection has averaged more than 5,000 clients per month. All volunteer, it has no cars, no expense accounts, and no salaried employees. Between 88 and 92 percent of the money donated goes straight to client food, the mission of the Community Food Connection.
