By By Connie Nowlin Managing editor
As part of the Food Harvest for the Atmore Area Christian Care Ministries, the children's program at First Baptist Church decided to collect pennies.
"A lot of kids robbed their piggy banks," said Tina Francis, coordinator of the children's ministry program at the church.
"But the money was raised by the church. They just allowed the children to put it in the jug."
The children collected pennies last year as well, but this year Francis thinks they came up with about twice as much money. The money is collected in addition to the regular food collections the church makes for the food bank.
"We know at this time of year there is a lot of demand (for services)," Francis said. "Families have needs for Thanksgiving."
The money goes into the funds the ministry uses to help those who are in crisis situations, and to buy food when the shelves are bare, or donations do not match needs.
"We help with prescriptions and utility bills," said Giles Chapman, a volunteer with the AACCM.
"Everything we get comes from the people and churches in this town," Chapman said. "We don't get money from any government agency."
Chapman said that recently the organization has had to purchase food supplies. Although it, like many families in the area, shops the sales, it means there is less for other needs.
All the donations are appreciated.
"You'd be surprised how much we get from little churches," Taylor Faircloth, another volunteer, said.
"Every church should be conscious of our needs and give to their ability," Faircloth said. Which brings up the matter of the children and their pennies.
"We hope this leads them to be mission-minded," Francis said of the penny project.
"We hope it teaches them to help the less fortunate. Children don't usually have a clue what it is like to not have food in the cabinet."