The Southern Standard program called Share A Christmas Dinner is celebrating 35 years of service this year.
Share began in 1981 by helping a few families, but it has grown over the past 35 years to provide hundreds of families with food each year. Last year, 450 Share food boxes were distributed to needy families in our community.
Making his annual Share donation on Tuesday was Dr. Norman Rone.
“Share is a good community project,” said Rone. “I don’t think people realize, but statistically, I think it’s better than 50 percent of our young folks don’t know where their next meal is coming from. It breaks my heart.”
Share food boxes are filled with enough for a family feast, including eggs, milk, bread, chicken, vegetables, and dessert items.
Rone and his wife make a donation to Share A Christmas Dinner every year.
“At Christmas time in particular, it’s a good time to help people out,” said Rone. “Our church, the Presbyterian, just offered a Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day. This was our third year. We fed over 300 people. About 150 of those we delivered. There are just so many lonely people out there. They are not necessarily indigent but they are lonely and don’t have anywhere to go and they have no family. Visiting with them was one of the best parts about offering a meal. We got to sit around and talk to them all afternoon.”
Such a large-scale food distribution program does have its costs and that’s why the Standard has kicked off collection efforts this year. If you would like to make a donation to help a family in need this holiday season, stop by the Standard office, purchase a placard at Foodland Plus, or send a check to Share A Christmas Dinner, P.O. Box 7032, McMinnville, Tenn., 37111.