In spite of the Pandemic, fifty local families received food baskets again this year. Athens Rotary Club has been hosting this project for at least fourteen years. (For a brief history of this project see our story written in 2015.)
Project leader Betsy Baringer (leader of this project in recent years) reports that special precautions where required this year because of COVID-19. As in recent years, we applied for a $1000 Rotary District Matching Grant to help fund the project. Donations to The Athens Rotary Foundation provide the matching funds. Betsy reports that each (of the 50) food boxes were packed with the following items: a whole turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, 18 eggs, a gallon of milk, 1lb butter, cranberry sauce, mushroom soup, condensed milk, dried onions, items to make a pumpkin and an apple pie, pie crusts, and rolls.
On Sunday, Nov 22, 2020, at The OU Inn Ballroom, (with COVID-19 precautions in place) Athens Rotarian Volunteers Diane McVey, Craig Johnson, and President-Elect Susan Barga, assisted Betsy Baringer in unloading the food items from vehicles and packing the non-perishable items in the food boxes. Click Here to see photos taken by Diane McVey.
The fully packed food boxes were delivered to Athens area families with the assistance of Athens County Children Services.
Thanks to all volunteers, and those who donated funds, for making this project a success again this year!!