AN ASSEMBLY LINE OF HELPERS at the Help Agency. Volunteers pictured, l-r, Gary Keve, David Connell, Louise Anderson, Barbara Garcia (back to camera), Peggy Connell, Kaylie Wilkinson, Rhonda Keve and Emerson Hancock. Volunteers not shown include Denmark Garcia, Nancy Kemp and Cindy Johnson.
Throughout the pandemic, volunteers with Grady County’s Help Agency have continued to serve clients, helping with food and certain bill assistance, and this week they’re ramping up efforts to make sure local families who have registered for their Christmas program get food for a holiday meal and even a gift for their children to unwrap Christmas morning.
The number of families who signed up for the holiday distribution this year has dropped dramatically, only 133 compared to last year’s 529 families.
The process for getting the food and toys to families will look different this year due to COVID-19 concerns. Rather than gathering inside The Church of Grady County to pick up the items, families will drive through the parking lot and Help Agency volunteers will put the food and gifts inside their vehicles.
Tuesday, a slew of volunteers worked to organize for the special Christmas distribution, scheduled for Thursday, and they also prepared for the monthly food aid distributions the Help Agency has been having, this month scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 29.
Although the Help Agency closed its doors March 11 with plans of reopening in a month, the doors still remain closed in December to protect clients and volunteers from the virus.
However, volunteers have worked with clients over the telephone to continue to provide services.
Cindy Johnson, treasurer, says, “Since March, 292 families have been helped with their light bills, rent, medicine and doctor appointments. With our monthly food distributions (the last Tuesday of each month at the Help Agency) 1,240 families have received food. That’s food for over 3,600 people.”
Johnson says it is through the generosity of local businesses, churches, individuals and grants that the agency can provide services.
“The Help Agency continues to assist our fellow citizens; we are lucky to live in such a caring community. Thank you,” says Johnson.
To support the Help Agency, located at 1651 N. Broad St., call (229) 377-2709 or send mail to P.O. Box 1452, Cairo.
