Feeling thankful, students at T.A. Dugger Junior High were able to do their part to help the community to end the week.
Right after 3:30 p.m. Friday, a barrage of cars lined up in front of Assistance & Resources Ministries (ARM) food pantry office. Shopping carts made their way outside to greet the attendees, who brought approximately 250 items to be donated to families in the area.
“Our kids have heard about it through their churches. That’s where I heard about it too,” Lindsey Kyker, instructor at TAD, said Friday afternoon outside the pantry. “We talked about the food we’ve raised through donations would go to ARM since it stays local.”
Kyker, Courtney Shelton and Penny Hampton, who supplied a truck, stopped by the facility and helped dispose the items.
While the adults stopped by and did the work near the facility, Kyker praised the efforts of the student body at TAD.
“Our kids helped distribute bags, get the word and we even did homeroom competitions inside the school,” Kyker said. “The homeroom class that had the most cans per student would get a reward … it has been great. We’ve been raising food donations all week since it’s close to Thanksgiving. We had such a great response. Our student council members helped a lot this afternoon by loading the food up into trucks, then we brought it over here.”
It was a joyous occasion, according to ARM Executive Director Nikki Jones, adding that she noticed approximately 250 items from the students. As carts were going outside to help bring items in, Jones added it was an amazing day.
ARM is a nonprofit organization based in Elizabethton with a mission to “identify and secure the necessary human, financial and material resources required to efficiently and fairly provide basic emergency necessities to those throughout Carter County.”
The facility services between 650 and 700 families each month, providing necessities including food, water, clothing and various holiday boxes.
ARM is opened Tuesday through Wednesday from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to 3:45 p.m. The facility is also opened Thursday and Friday from 9 to 11:45 a.m.
For more information and on how to get involved, visit their website at armfoodpantry.com or call (423) 542-0919.