There is a hidden problem in Cherokee County. It is one that often goes undetected by those that don’t experience it, but take a look at the numbers and it becomes clear that there are those in our community that struggle to put food on the table. The Cherokee County School District annual report shared that 31.75% of students enrolled in the 2012-2013 school year qualified for free/reduced lunch. Consider the fact that at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year Cherokee County School District was expecting 40,200. That translates to 12,763 students that would qualify for free/reduced lunch. Many of these students count on the free/reduced lunch program for their meals, and when school is on break it may mean a break from nourishment.
With the holidays in the not-too-distant future, perhaps it is true that awareness is half the battle in successfully helping community members in need. This is a great time to take the opportunity to donate time or resources to the various organizations within the community. The following organizations are just a few within our readership area that provide food support for families in Cherokee County:
Forever Fed
This is a mobile food ministry that aims to feed the hungry in North Georgia. They are 100% volunteer driven. Visit the Signup Genius online sign up sheet for more information regarding volunteer opportunities with Forever Fed.
Papa’s Pantry
Located in Woodstock and Canton, Papa’s Pantry is currently collecting Thanksgiving food items. They are also seeking volunteers to fill a variety of roles including office help, publication help, fundraising, and more.
Must Ministries
Offering a variety of services to those located in Cherokee and Cobb Counties, MUST Ministries currently is seeking volunteers. A large variety of individual or group opportunities is available if you are interested in donating you time. At present, MUST Ministries is anticipating filling over 1,000 Thanksgiving baskets for families. Find out more about how to donate time or resources here.
Visit the Helping Hands page in the Sixes Living Magazine for more information about these organizations and others in the area. For a complete list of local nonprofits and volunteer opportunities in the Cherokee County area, visit volunteercherokee.org.
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