NEWS

Charity works to feed the hungry, drive-thru style

Evan Peter Smith
Reporter

ZANESVILLE – It was like being stuck in traffic — a long line of stationary cars, the smell of exhaust and gasoline wafting in the heat — but Betty Wilkins said it was all worth it.

“We look forward to this every year,” said Wilkins, who works as a semiretired caregiver in Muskingum County. “For the people who are in need, every little bit goes a long way.”

Wilkins was among the large crowd of people sitting in their cars waiting for boxes of food, supplies and beauty products that were being distributed Friday afternoon by the Muskingum County Hunger Network outside Secrest Auditorium.

A partnership between Feed the Children, Avon and local ministry-based charity Christ’s Table hosted the annual event, which has distributed about $1.5 million of goods to more than 4,440 families since it began five years ago.

Eric Lee, director of customer services for Avon in Zanesville, said the beauty product company has tried to focus its philanthropic practices on women’s issues, citing hunger as a major concern.

“We see it as an awesome responsibility,” Lee said. “Making sure the hungry are provided for is one thing, but we also think including beauty products, jewelry and other trinkets can really give people an opportunity to feel special even if they don’t have extra money to buy those kinds of items.”

By partnering with a local charity such as Christ’s Table, the event was able to evenly distribute food vouchers to about 1,200 families at 15 food pantries across the county.

Keely Warden, executive director of Christ’s Table, said three semitrailers’ worth of supplies would be distributed by the end of the day.

“It can be kind of a workout, moving all these boxes,” Warden said, wiping the sweat off her forehead. “But we try to make sure that the families who are really in need have an opportunity to come out and get a little assistance.”

The event also hosted an indoor resource fair — hosted by representatives from the United Way, Ohio State University Athletics, Public Health and other groups — to provide information about scholarships, financial assistance and practical skills for the event attendees.

“We really want this to be a one-stop shop for helping people,” Warden said.

For Wilkins, the event offered a way to help the people who need it most.

“I take care of people for a living,” she said. “One woman in particular, she has been through so much recently, dealing with deaths in the family, health issues, being too ill to get out of the house.

“The food will definitely come in handy,” Wilkins added. “But these little gifts and trinkets they include are really special to her. Now she’ll have something to give to her grandkids, to make them happy, and that will mean so much to her — you have no idea.”

epsmith@gannett.com

740-450-6772

Twitter: @evansmithreport