Story and Pictures by Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson Even with the pending open heart surgery of a close relative, 25 year Feed the Needy (FTN) Board of Directors Chair, President, and Cargill Retiree Ruth Banks-Rawlings knew the third year of providing Easter food baskets in boxes to the community had to go forward. Everyone is aware of basket delivery during Thanksgiving and the city of Memphis’ efforts at Christmas, but when asked about the unique concept to assist individuals and families during the Easter season, Banks replied, “As an organization, we (the FTN Board of Directors) talked about it in 2016 and executed it the following year. We wanted to do more than provide food during Thanksgiving, so we kind of thought about a ‘Christmas in July’ concept and collectively decided on Easter because a lot of families don’t have Easter dinner even though they wish they could. With a limited number of food baskets available, we currently provide baskets during Thanksgiving, and Easter, in the Greater Memphis, Mid-South, and surrounding communities.” The organization delivered 1,150 Easter boxes this Easter season. A total of 3,500 food baskets in boxes including pantry supplies were delivered during the Thanksgiving holiday in 2018. Feed the Needy is a program that started within Cargill,” said Banks. “At the time there were three schools (Florida ES, Kansas ES, and Riverview ES) the company had adopted through the Memphis City Schools ‘Adopt-A-School’ program. These were the three schools that were closest to our plant, in about a 5- to 7-mile radius. We reached out to the schools to see what we could do as a community stakeholder. In talking with the guidance counselors, they shared that during the holidays, a lot of their families were going without a Thanksgiving meal and that’s how this project got started.” Valero retiree and FTN Secretary Roberta ‘Bert’ Richards said, “If you had a box and you had 10 people [to feed], you could really be talking about 20-30 thousand people getting fed, but when you’re talking about one person, it could last one person from Thanksgiving all the way until Christmas. “Our goal is to increase services by ten percent every year. When you consider that most families include four people, we believe our donations fed nearly 30,000 of our neighbors,” said Banks. “With all of the pallets of extra food that we donate to area food pantries, we believe we have fed an additional 4,500 people.” This is the second year the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has participated in the FTN operation. “I’ve been with Feed The Needy for about 5 or 6 years,” said Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Unit Detective Nichole Brumley, whose father, Johnny Brumley, is the FTN Vice Chair and a Valero retiree. “The Sheriff’s department joined FTN last year. I love participating with this organization because it provides food to people and communities who really need it. I love to see the look on their face when they open that box an everything is neatly placed meaning it was a thoughtful mission. I love helping people in need, it’s my job. It’s what I do as a Deputy Sheriff.” While working at Valero, Mr. Brumley and FTN Secretary, Bert Richards would often meet up with Banks and other Cargill employees at a few of the same Adopt-A-School locations in the community. “At that time we were providing scholarships,” said the senior Brumley. “Cargill and Valero had both adopted Carver HS and we would often meet up during the science fairs, reading projects, and several other school events. That’s how and when we began talking about the food drive. When Ruth told us there was a greater need for food in the community based on data she was receiving through the school guidance counselors, Ms. Bert and I arranged a meeting with our HR department at Valero and they told us to make it happen.” “I’m the oldest of 12 siblings,” said Brumley. “During the holidays and even on regular days, people would always help us. Even though we didn’t have much, we had each other; my mom did the best she could and that is what motivates me. I try to instill that into Nichole and my grandson.” Banks agreed, “I grew up in Memphis and I have 11 siblings. I know what it’s like not to have enough food for everyone in your household. Several fraternities and sororities blessed our family with food and clothes to help my mother when I was growing up. I feel like the tables have turned now. Together, we can bless other families that may be in the same position.” “The joy is ours to see their face when they don’t have food,” said Richards. More than 100 volunteers helped to make this years’ Easter event a success. In addition to providing food boxes weighing 45 lbs. each, FTN provides hundreds of items to area shelters and food pantries so they can feed others. To help raise funds for Thanksgiving 2019 and Easter 2020, the MPD Community Outreach Program (COP) is sponsoring “Striking Out Hunger,” a bowling fundraiser, on Saturday, September 21, 2019, at Billy Hardwicks All Star Bowling Center, 1576 South White Station Road. Area companies and individuals are encouraged to participate. Registration will begin at 9 am and bowling will start at 10 am. The registration fee for participants is $30/person. Registration fees include 3 games, bowling shoes, a commemorative t-shirt, and one door-prize ticket. Additional door prize tickets can be purchased to help raise more funds. For additional information, contact Banks or Major Sandra Green at (901) 327-4092, (901) 568-9298, or by email. The entire FTN Board of Directors includes Banks, Brumley, Richards, Steve Freeman, FTN Chief Operating Officer and Barnhart Crane employee; FTN Assistant Secretary Andrea Goodman, a The Hershey Company retiree, and Treasurer Christina Lewis of Richardson Oil Seed (formerly Conagra Foods). 18
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