CRANE HILL, Ala. – This Thanksgiving season, one local business is giving back to the community in the way it feels is most needed. Arrowhead RV Park is collecting food items to distribute across the county to bless families in need for Thanksgiving.
Property and Restaurant Manager Terrie Burke said, “There’s so many people out there that don’t have much, and our community (park residents) is doing this for the community.”
Burke plans on putting together food boxes to distribute to local families; she said she already has a handful of nominated recipients.
“There’s personally a few families that I know, and if there is a family in the community that may need help, please let me know,” she said. “Whatever we have left over we will distribute to the pantries across the county, and there are local churches that are also doing food boxes that will have our remaining items.”
Alabama is no stranger to food insecurity. Many residents cannot afford enough food to feed themselves, often visiting food banks and utilizing community assistance programs. The Alabama Department of Public Health reports that Alabama is the fifth poorest state in America with 23% of children and 17% of adults without access to nutritious foods. Mortgages, medications and other expenses are typically paid first; grocery budgets are often the first to face cuts.
Arrowhead RV Park will be accepting donations of non-perishable items that families can immediately use such as packaged or canned goods, dried beans, jellies, peanut butter, pasta, rice and other pantry staples. Donations can be dropped off at Arrowhead or TnTee’s, a local small business in West Point acting as a liaison between the community and Arrowhead by offering its space as a drop-off point. If transporting potential donations is an issue, Burke said she will arrange a pick-up to ensure every family in need can have a warm meal on Thanksgiving.
“They’re (TnTee’s) supporting us and keeping a drop box at their location and they are going to assist me in coming to pick up the food if you can’t get it to us,” she said. “They’ll be doing drops to us here once a week.”
Arrowhead RV Park is located at 671 County Road 941 in Crane Hill. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. till 4 p.m.
TnTee’s is located at 141 County Road 1242 in Cullman. Hours of operation are Tuesdays 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
