Thursday, April 25, 2024
Gatesville answered this year’s 32nd annual Food for Families challenge on Nov. 19, in a big way, shattering last year’s record haul to feed local families and individuals in need.
As of press time, Gatesville collected an amazing 612,140 pounds of food, far surpassing last year’s record of 507,744 pounds. Donations came through both non-perishable food products and monetary donations. This record number will continue to rise when a final count is determined on Nov. 30. Care Center co-director, Deral McWhorter was overwhelmed by the response. “Whatever I say would not capture what just happened. This town and surrounding area blows me away and makes me reel under the impact of it all.”
“Deral and I have been trying to wrap our minds around what our community did for Food for Families this year. We just look at each other and shake our heads. We literally are in a state of awe,” said Debbie Blanchard, co-director of the Care Center.
All donations will stay in the community and be distributed through the Gatesville Care Center, which serves all of Coryell County — except for Copperas Cove, which has its own care center program.
Monetary donations are converted to food pounds through a formula where one dollar equals 2.5 pounds of food, based on the cost the local Care Center pays for food through the Capital Area Food Bank.
Besting previous years’ efforts has become an “unofficial challenge” and something in which Gatesville residents take great pride. In the past, as co-director of the Gatesville Care Center, McWhorter was adamant that Food for Families is not a competition, but he does appreciate all the efforts and recognizes the donations.
The largest contributor this year was the Gary and Diane Heavin Community Fund with a monetary donation of $25,000, which converted into 62,500 pounds. Coryell Health came in behind the Heavin Community Fund with a monetary contribution that converted to 43,283 pounds in addition to actual non-perishable food products of 1,700, making Coryell Health’s total 44,983 pounds. Coming in as the third highest donor was the M.J. Hanna Foundation with a monetary value of $10,000, which converted into 25,000 pounds to round out the top three donors for this year’s food drive.
Gatesville Elementary School’s 22,855 pounds marked the largest school donation, followed by Gatesville Intermediate School with 12,863 pounds. The Gatesville High School totaled 10,857 pounds while Jonesboro Independent School District followed with 8,905 pounds. The Gatesville Primary School produced 8,409 pounds followed by the Gatesville Junior High with 4,896.
Local Churches added more than 116,988 pounds to the total. The top contributor was Osage Baptist Church who weighed in at 20,000 pounds followed by Trinity Baptist Church who gave 13,330 pounds. First United Methodist Church of Gatesville contributed 12,938 pounds while Johnny Watkins Sunday School School Class can be credited with 12,500 pounds. Hay Valley Baptist Church contributed 12,500 pounds and Cedar Ridge Church of Christ is credited with 11,575 pounds. At least 13 other churches contributed to the cause as well.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice also weighed in with the top contributor be the Hilltop Unit with 1,861 pounds followed by the Mountain View Unit with 819 pounds. The Lane Murray Unit contributed 268 pounds and Woodman State Jail contributed 101 pounds.
“I thank every person, business, school, church and prison for every penny given,” said McWhorter.
With sincere appreciation, Blanchard said, “To say thank-you to a community such as ours is only touching the surface of thankfulness. There are no words to express a heart overflowing with gratitude.”
