Food To Be Handed Out To Families In Need

With families still struggling in the wake of the pandemic, two groups are partnering to provide packages of food to those in need. The food will be given out, free of charge, in a drive-through setting Saturday, Nov. 7, at Vickery Mill Elementary School, 1201 Alpharetta Street in Roswell.

The event is an effort of Convoy of Hope, an international relief organization, and Hope Roswell, which is a partnership of several Roswell churches of varying denominations. The two groups first joined in June to give out 1,300 boxes of much-needed food in a similar event.

"We knew the need was huge," said Brenda Orlans, director of Hope Roswell, "and the food was gone in three hours. It broke my heart to see folks drive up only to be told there was no more food." That is why she and others are thrilled to be able to offer help again. "While the unemployment rate is much lower than it was in June, there are still lots of folks struggling to make ends meet," said Orlans.

This time, socks and other goodies will be given out as well.

The giveaways are times of great satisfaction for recipients and volunteers alike. "To lovingly experience their joy in receiving gifts of food reminds all of us of the importance of being our brother's keeper," said volunteer Chris Curry. "Help in times of trouble has long been a tradition of the Hope Roswell group of churches."

Orlans said the most frequent question that she gets from volunteers is "When are we doing this again?"

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until quantities are gone. No ID is required at the drive-through event.

About Convoy of Hope: Assistance received after the death of a family member helped inspire the founders of Convoy of Hope to reach out to others in a big way. Through community outreach programs and disaster response, the faith-based international organization has partnered with businesses, churches, and other groups to serve people around the world since 1994. They have distributed more than 125 million meals in response to the pandemic.

About Hope Roswell: For Hope Roswell, the partnership with Convoy of Hope has been a chance to pivot from their popular yearly festival, during which free services and support are offered in a spirit of celebration every spring. During the Roswell Day of Hope, more than fifteen hundred guests typically receive medical checkups, haircuts, entertainment, and support, all of it free of charge for those in need. The event has served more than 16,000 in the course of its existence. This year, the need for social distancing meant outreach by the group had to take a new form during the pandemic. Hope Roswell also works to meet the needs of local families in projects throughout the year.