Fishing report

New location for Hope House food distribution

Move to Marion complex doesn’t hurt turnout

news@theeveningtimes.com

Hope House Ministries moved it’s every other month food give away to the Marion Sports Complex last week. The location was moved from the traditional distribution site at Marion First Baptist because the long lines of traffic backed up the neighborhood streets creating congestion just across Highway 77 from the new Walmart Neighborhood Center. Those in need found the new mobile food pantry in the park.

Traffic wound around the whole park where Esperanza Bonanza was held.

Produce, bread, sweets and ten pounds of meat were loaded into vehicles for qualified participants.

“I don’t think moving to the new location hurt us much,” said Founder and Director Mary Gibbs.

“They all seemed to find us without out a problem. We had a good turnout.”

Gibbs explained how feeding the hungry, especially senior citizens, came to be for the West Memphis based ministry that started with a focus on women.

“I got a call that a widow was hungry and had no groceries,” said Gibbs. “When I got there I found the cupboards and the refrigerator bare. I asked her how long it had been since she had eaten and she said I don’t know. She was living on social security only and had to decide between rent, food, and medicine. That’s when I decided that Hope House had to feed the hungry, especially the elderly.”

The June 3 food giveaway served 632 qualifying households, 270 senior adults, and 151 children.

Forty-five Hope House volunteers turned out to hand over groceries trucked in by the Mid-south Food Bank.

By John Rech