News Article
WBCT Donates to Food2Kids
Published on: January 22, 2014
Winder-Barrow Community Theatre is excited to announce the recent donation of over $3000 to the Barrow County Food2Kids Program. Another $1000 in donations came in after the show concluded so the grand total was over $4000 raised because of the actors and actresses who presented the Christmas show, Dashing Through the Snow. All of the profits from this show were given to Food2Kids along with donations from audience members who purchased Christmas goodies made by the cast. There were also a number of audience members who donated to the program as well.
The check was presented to Shannon Derrick, the Barrow County Social Worker who coordinates the program in Barrow County, and Ellen Petree, a volunteer who works with the program. Because of this fund raising event, 15 children will be receiving food on the weekends during the school year. The Food2Kids program is sponsored through the Northeast Georgia Food Bank.
Several years ago a desperate need was recognized when students came to school very hungry on Monday morning after a weekend with little or no food at home. The students receive a breakfast and lunch at school each day but often did not have food at other times. Food2Kids started in Barrow County in 2008 with 8 children receiving 7-10 pounds of kid-friendly, healthy, food in their Friday backpacks to last them through the weekend. In the last few years growing poverty in the area caused a great need for this program. Barrow County now has 150 children in the program with more students on a waiting list for sponsorship. To sponsor a child for the school year, the cost is $260.
If you would like to donate to this program, all donations are tax deductible. Checks should be payable to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and need to be designated for Barrow County Food2Kids. If you have questions, please call Shannon Derrick at 770-867-4527 or e-mail her at Shannon.derrick@barrow.k12.ga.us. Donations can be mailed to the Barrow County School System, Attention Shannon Derrick, 179 W Athens Street, Winder, GA 30680.
Photo: Levi Karas, Léland Karas (Director), Shannon Derrick (Food2Kids Coordinator), Ellen Petree (Food2Kids Volunteer), Leslie Kimbell (Director), and Jan Still-Lindeman
