Cumby Food Pantry shares donation with six area organizations

Cumby Food Pantry shares donation with six area organizations Image

• Volunteers gathered Wednesday morning at the Cumby Food Pantry to unload an 18-wheeler loaded with donated food to be shared with six area organizations that provide food to those in need. The delivery consisted of food staples and shelf-stable items. The donation was made and coordinated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Staff Photo by Tammy Vinson

Tammy Vinson Sat, 06/15/2024 - 10:27 Body

Cumby Food Pantry is one of several organizations in the Northeast Texas area that helps fight hunger.

On Wednesday, June 12, the organization received a large donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, coordinated by church representative Kellie Richins of Gilmer.

“We are so blessed to receive this donation, which we’re sharing with five other organizations in this area,” said Sharon Newton, Cumby Food Bank CEO. “Times are hard, and people are hungry. We — and other organizations like us — are here to help.”

The food shipment contained an assortment of shelf stable items, such as canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, raisins, pasta, potato flakes and liquid dish soap.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints feels strongly about the charge to love and serve our fellow man,” said Kellie Richins, a church member based in Gilmer who helps coordinate food deliveries like this one. “This is the second food truck that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sent to [the Sulphur Springs area]. In the past four years, the church has sent eight food trucks to the East Texas areas I work with. We love being able to help others, and we love getting to help agencies like those in Sulphur Springs fulfill their agencies’ missions as well.”

Organizations sharing the donation include Community Chest, Cumby Food Pantry, Freedom Church of God, Fruitful Harvest Ministry, Meal-A-Day, Pine Forest Food Pantry and Quitman Food Bank.