Food for Appalachia

Nell grew up in Appalachia in a house without running water or an indoor bathroom. She did have dreams of a better life. But before she could go out to start a career, Nell’s mother became very sick and required constant care. Pushing her dreams aside, Nell committed to caring for her mother and father until their death decades later. After her sister’s death from cancer in 2001, there was no one left to take care of and no time to begin a promising career. How would she survive?

Now a senior citizen herself, Nell only had a small social security check to live off of and had to move into subsidized housing. Her heart began failing. The bills for a pace maker, repair for three arteries and medicine were expensive. Nell’s niece helped all that she could, but there was hardly enough money left over for food. Now this servant needed serving.

Operation Blessing partner Shelby St. Church of God in Bristol, Tennessee, heard of the woman’s desperate situation. Armed with two bags of groceries, volunteers bring Nell enough to eat every month! She is one of the thousands of men, women and children living in this economically beaten area that benefit from these food distributions.

Led by Nancy Montgomery, director of benevolence, a handful of volunteers at Shelby St. Church of God work hard to make sure more than 300 hungry families in their community have something to eat every month. A family’s average annual income in the area is only $23,000. So when mothers, widows, single fathers and the elderly pick up grocery bags filled with donated items including pizza crust, frozen bread, chicken, crackers, graham crackers, pancake mix, syrup, potatoes, corn, onions and soup beans, they are relieved and very grateful. Our partners are reaching those who need it most, right where they live!