Lions Gift Lifts Up Food Bank

Wednesday’s lead editorial highlights the good work of the South Strand Lions Club and the South Strand Assembly of God food bank.

When the South Strand Assembly of God church started a food bank about six years ago, 15 or 20 families were provided food, pantry director Vicky Bell recalled. Now, “we feed about 200 families a month.” These are the regular clients of the estimated 300 families in the program, Bell said. Like her counterparts across the area, Bell said the pantry has five or six new families every day.

“Now is a very hard time of the year to get food,” Bell said. So a gift of $7,800 from the South Strand Lions Club could not have been more welcome. On Monday, Bell had just purchased 25 turkeys and $500 worth of other food to complete 50 baskets. Families not receiving a turkey will have a ham for Christmas; they received a turkey at Thanksgiving, Bell said.

The South Strand Assembly Food Bank distributes food on Monday and Tuesday evenings and Wednesday and Thursday mornings. About 25 volunteers from the congregation handle the distribution. Church affiliation is not required to receive food.

The Lions Club passed on to the food bank a $7,800 grant from Bi-Lo Charities. The grant came from funds raised at the annual Bi-Lo Charity Classic golf tournament held in June in Greenville. The Lions Club also raised an additional $2,000 for the food bank at a golf tournament in the spring, club treasurer and past president Frank Losasso said. The Lions Club has supported the food bank for five years, but this year and last was able to make significant contributions, Losasso said. Food bank volunteer Frances Kroener of Murrells Inlet summed up the terrific support of the small service club: “This Lions Club is a wonderful blessing.”

“Now is a very hard time of the year to get food,” Bell said. So a gift of $7,800 from the South Strand Lions Club could not have been more welcome. On Monday, Bell had just purchased 25 turkeys and $500 worth of other food to complete 50 baskets. Families not receiving a turkey will have a ham for Christmas; they received a turkey at Thanksgiving, Bell said.

The South Strand Assembly Food Bank distributes food on Monday and Tuesday evenings and Wednesday and Thursday mornings. About 25 volunteers from the congregation handle the distribution. Church affiliation is not required to receive food.

The Lions Club passed on to the food bank a $7,800 grant from Bi-Lo Charities. The grant came from funds raised at the annual Bi-Lo Charity Classic golf tournament held in June in Greenville. The Lions Club also raised an additional $2,000 for the food bank at a golf tournament in the spring, club treasurer and past president Frank Losasso said. The Lions Club has supported the food bank for five years, but this year and last was able to make significant contributions, Losasso said. Food bank volunteer Frances Kroener of Murrells Inlet summed up the terrific support of the small service club: “This Lions Club is a wonderful blessing.”