JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Information Channel 11 crew members packed about 550 bins of meals for Good Samaritan Ministries as a part of the crew's Founder's Day celebration.
Every year, Nexstar Media Group stations throughout the nation take part in Founder's Day, a day the place groups give again to their communities via service.
Staff members helped pack bins stuffed with non-perishable gadgets resembling bins of macaroni and cheese, canned greens, spaghetti, ravioli, peanut butter and jelly at North Ridge Group Church, West Market Campus. The bins had been stuffed in preparation for Good Samaritan's first summer time distribution occasion in late June.
“We do native tales,” stated Storm Staff 11 meteorologist Alex Williams. “We make the native climate. We do native sports activities. And for us to have the ability to reconnect with these communities… and to have the ability to assist our communities is even higher.”
The summer time meals distribution is a program that Good Samaritan has been doing for a few years. Final yr, the group offered about 350 bins per distribution. This yr, the group is just attempting to maintain up with demand.
“We’re seeing that right here in our area, with the variety of telephone calls we obtain and e mail inquiries from those that need assistance,” stated Aaron T. Murphy, government director and CEO of Good Samaritan Ministries.
Murphy referenced statistics resembling 19% of kids within the area being victims of meals insecurity, together with information from Vanderbilt College detailing that greater than 40% of kids within the state are victims of meals insecurity.
“We see that there’s a want with kids. We felt inclined to reply,” Murphy stated. “We really feel known as to make a distinction and we are able to do it with the assistance of the neighborhood.”
With Good Samaritan Ministries' two summer time distributions, roughly 1,100 households might be served all through Northeast Tennessee. The Information Channel 11 workers might be completely happy to assist make this occur.
“It warms my coronary heart,” stated Paula Jackson, CEO and vp of WJHL. “It warms my coronary heart enormously as a result of I do know the necessity exists.”
Volunteers and donations are nonetheless wanted for this system. About $50,000 is required to assist Good Samaritan Ministries meet this system's targets.
For info on tips on how to contact the group, click on right here.
Field distribution will happen at North Ridge Group Church, West Market Campus, on June 22, starting at 9 am. The church is positioned at 613 Leisure Lane in Johnson Metropolis. Households could be permitted for a field on web site by presenting proof of identification. Perishable gadgets might be added to bins on the day of distribution.
The second distribution will happen on July 27.