Press release from Interfaith Assistance Ministry:
Hendersonville – It’s time to talk some serious turkey!
Interfaith Assistance Ministry, the largest provider of crisis services to Henderson County residents, will begin accepting turkeys, hams and holiday foods for its third annual Holiday Food Drive on Monday, Oct. 14, to help ensure that local families can enjoy a holiday meal at home this season.
Last year, IAM provided holiday meals to more than 1,489 children and adults who needed crisis assistance during the 2018 holiday season.
Holidays are often a difficult time for many of our neighbors struggling to make ends meet. Adding the expense of holiday gifts and meals adds additional stress and worry to their lives, said Elizabeth Willson Moss, IAM Executive Director. Please consider hosting a turkey and ham drive or a Holiday Food Drive at your church or synagogue, work place, civic club, school or neighborhood, she said.
“Our volunteers and staff who fill up shopping carts with holiday foods for families and individuals who are hungry get to see the joy from those we help first-hand,” said Elizabeth Willson Moss, IAM executive director. “The generosity of our community, especially during the holidays, is nothing short of miraculous.”
Donations needed for holiday meals include 6 to 10 pound hams, 10 to 15 pound turkeys, turkey breasts and food for side dishes — stuffing mix, gravy mix or canned gravy, sweet potatoes or yams, canned fruits, canned green beans, corn, carrots, peas, potatoes, instant potatoes, cranberry sauce, pie crusts, pie filling, cake mixes and icing.
Please bring your donations to IAM at 310 Freeman Street, near the Blue Ridge Mall, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pickups for donations can be arranged by calling IAM Pantry Manager Ernest Brown at 828-697-7029. Holiday Food Drive donations will be accepted from Oct. 14 through Friday, Dec. 20. Please mail contributions to purchase holiday food to IAM at P.O. Box 2562, Hendersonville, NC 28793. You can also give financial donations via IAM’s website at www.iam-hc.org. All donations are tax deductible.
The last day to pick up a Thanksgiving meal is Tuesday, Nov. 26. The last day to pick-up a Christmas meal is Monday, Dec. 23. Please let IAM know if you can hold a food or turkey and ham Holiday Drive, Moss said.
So far this year, IAM has assisted 1,089 more Henderson County residents than last year, Moss said. In 2018, IAM provided crisis services to more than 12,750 residents. Of those, more than 50 percent only received help one time.
Interfaith Assistance Ministry has been providing crisis services including food, clothing, help with heating, utilities, rent and other basic needs to Henderson County residents since 1984. Donations of new adult and children’s shoes, socks and underwear and new or gently used towels and bed linens are always needed. For more information about IAM, please call 828-697-7029 or visit iam-hc.org.
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