Special Christmas program provides food, toys
The Gilmer Community Food Pantry was able to provide four local families with enough food for Christmas dinner, and then some, as part of a special holiday program.
Allen Triebel, the local food pantry’s director, credited one of the facility’s volunteers, Paul Bryant, for coming up with the Willy Wonka-inspired idea.
“Paul’s idea was to make an event that would highlight our Sack Pack program, as well as the food pantry, and make it exciting for the schools and the kids,” Triebel said.
Earlier this month, golden Easter eggs were tucked into four of the many Sack Pack bags the pantry delivers to local elementary schools each week.
Families of the children who received the golden eggs were treated to a free grocery shopping trip at the pantry. School administration picked the children and families they thought were most deserving, Triebel noted.
“Something just popped into my head one day. We have Christmas coming up and I thought, why don’t we offer a bonus and let people go through the pantry (and shop) for free,” Bryant said.
At the event held last Monday, families and children were also able to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Semper Fi Santa (the jolly elves portrayed by local retired Marine Jon Vigue and his wife, Michelle). Gilmer Toys for Tots provided toys for each child and their siblings, while the pantry gave Chick-fil-A gift cards to the golden egg recipients, Bryant noted.
“We hope to continue this idea, hopefully for Easter or Thanksgiving. This was our first time and I saw no negatives in it. We’ve got plenty of food, and the purpose is to get the food out,” said Triebel.
“This had a big impact on people and I think it will go over well the next time we do it,” added Bryant.
Sack Packs are sent home with students each Friday at Gilmer Head Start and Clear Creek, Ellijay and Mountain View Elementary School.
The goal is to provide those children with something to eat over the weekend in the form of canned food and snacks, Bryant said. More than 360 Sack Pack bags are distributed in the four schools each week, confirmed Triebel.
The program continued this year despite COVID-19-related closings.
“We’ve given Sack Packs every week except maybe three this year, whereas we would’ve given them only the weeks that schools were open last year. We’ve actually given more food through Sack Pack this year than we have in the past,” Triebel said.