Church Mobile Food Pantry Returns Saturday Morning

January 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Don’t be surprised if you see a line of automobiles early Saturday morning stretching from downtown Smithville on South College Street as far out as Green Brook Park.

It’s become a regular occurrence at least twice a year as families needing food get in line to be served by the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church’s mobile food pantry in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

The distribution begins at 9 a.m. with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. No one being served ever has to leave their automobile. Volunteers working the pantry will prepare food boxes filled with non-perishables, vegetables, produce, canned goods, breads, bakery treats, and sometimes dairy products and deliver them directly to the vehicles waiting in line. Automobiles will line up facing north on College Street to North Market Street.

Myra Reffue, Pantry Coordinator, said this food distribution has been a community outreach mission of the church for several years.

“Second Harvest always sends us enough food to feed about 300 families and we try to limit it to two families per car and depending upon the size of the family there is enough food distributed to feed each family for about a week. This particular pantry is sponsored and paid for by TVA so the church doesn’t have to pay anything for this one. Many times we get sponsorships from companies that go through Second Harvest and if there is no sponsor the church covers the cost,” said Reffue.

The food pantry always gets help from volunteers both from the church and the community to off load the Second Harvest truck and to prepare and deliver the food boxes but others who want to participate are welcome.

“Anyone who wants to volunteer needs to be there by 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning. For more information you may call 615-597-4197, extension 3,” added Reffue.

January 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Children at the Smithville Head Start Center last month were treated to bags of gifts thanks to the Smithville Police Department’s “Cops4Kids” program.

In what has become an annual event, Police Chief Mark Collins and members of the department made sure each child had a bag of toys. Sabrina Kirksey and Amber Spurgeon provided the musical entertainment, the Christmas Story was delivered by Ryan Huling of New Life Pentecostal Church & Pickles. The children also got a visit from Santa and the Grinch.

Chief Collins said the effort is made possible due to generous donations of the community and the help of Cash Express who conducted a collection drive.

“Cash Express puts out the collection boxes at local businesses for toys, food, clothing and money jars in addition to their annual Fill the Cop Car and Bake Sale event. The toys and money are then given to the police department while the food collected goes to God’s Food Pantry and the clothing to the Hope Center to help with their ministries. Most toys are for the younger children, so the money is spent to purchase gifts for the 11-year-olds and up. We also purchase clothing items if requested by the parent,” said Chief Collins.

The Smithville Police Department’s “Cops4Kids” program began in 2012 and has served Smithville Head Start children with gifts at Christmas time since 2015 along with others requesting and needing help.

“The first year the department started with $300 and donations from our community. From that we were able to provide food, entertainment, and gifts to 108 children. This year we were able to provide gifts to 246 children,” Chief Collins continued.

A special thanks goes to Cash Express and to RealSource who joined in the effort this year.

“The department has enjoyed its partnership with Cash Express and a special lady in particular, Evelyn Woods, who donates gifts throughout the year. We are truly grateful for her support. This year, the department also partnered with RealSource who obtained forms from the local schools that parents filled out and returned to the teachers if they desired help. This allowed the department to help more children in the community,” added Chief Collins.

“The department is thankful for the support and partnerships it has formed with the public. The children of this community are the city, county, and state’s future and any help and encouragement to them can go a long way in molding who they will become,” Chief Collins concluded.

January 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Schools will re-open Thursday, January 5.

The remainder of the 2023 school calendar is as follows:

Schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King Day January 16, President’s Day February 20, Spring Break March 27-31, and Good Friday April 7.

The last day of school will be May 24, 2023.

Report cards will be issued at all schools on January 9, March 14, and May 24. Parent teacher conferences will be held at DCHS from 3-6 p.m. on March 14 and at all the other schools, DWS, NES, SES, and DMS from 3-6 p.m. on March 16.

The DCHS Graduation will be Friday, May 12 at 7 p.m.

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