MURPHY — Parishes did not stop their almsgiving this Lent, despite the pandemic.
Knights of Columbus Council 14087 collaborated with members of St. William Church in Murphy and Hiwassee Community Center to assist in distributing food from a Manna Food Distribution truck March 25.
Volunteers distributed food to 56 households serving 169 people.
In addition, 10 cases of clement oranges were donated to the Hiwassee Dam High School for its lunch program.
Volunteers wore face masks and protective gloves to place boxes of food and produce in clients’ vehicles as they drove up to the distribution point.
Volunteers distributed every item that Manna had loaded onto the truck – nearly 2,400 pounds of non-perishable dry goods and fresh produce.
The next distribution is scheduled for April 22.
— Mark March and Phil Roch, Catholic News Herald
THOMASVILLE — Now in its sixth year, the food collection ministry at Our Lady of the Highways Church continues to be a great success, collecting 22,972 pounds of food and $13,033 to-date to aid the Cooperative Community Ministry and the Fairgrove Family Resource Center.
The food ministry started in 2015 through the efforts of Pat and Joan White (pictured), who felt the call for the church to help those in need in the Thomasville area. The once-monthly food collections take place at all the Masses one weekend each month.
— Joe Thornton, correspondent