It’s been five years since volunteers first came together to distribute food essentials to community members in need. While Barbara Dawkins and other volunteers had hoped that the weekly event would carry on for much longer, the time for this particular food distribution has sadly come to an end.
The giveaway started and stayed at Southside Baptist Church for two and a half years. Volunteers then moved the giveaway to Crossroads Baptist Church where it lasted for another two and a half years.
“We saw a need in the community,” Dawkins said.
Every Wednesday, a team of people would meet and start getting items ready to distribute to those that were waiting. The official start time was 10 a.m. but sometimes cars would line up as early as 6:30 a.m. to receive what was available.
“We would give away food in the rain, or cold, or heat,” Dawkins said. “It didn’t matter.” Dawkins also said it wasn’t uncommon to distribute as much as 12,000 pounds of food to as many as 200 families in one day.
“We didn’t even know what we were going to be giving away each Wednesday until the day before,” Dawkins said.
While the giveaways took place at a couple of local churches, the churches weren’t actually involved. It was simply a group of volunteers that felt the need to make sure that those in need were taken care of.
“It was a blessing for us and a blessing for the families,” Dawkins said.
Two reasons for ending the giveaway are a lack of volunteers and space. Dawkins hopes to see someone step in and continue something that is dear to her heart.
“There is still a need in the community,” Dawkins said. “I would love to see someone take it up.”
There’s no doubt that those in need will truly miss Dawkins and her team.
