Feeding the Christmas spirit
By Steve Herring
Published in News on December 14, 2016 10:42 AM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Renee Newkirk, left, and her daughter, Sheree Spruill, demonstrate how items will be placed in the food boxes that will be given away Dec. 20 at Helping Hands United Mission. In the background is Ms. Newkirk's mother, Lula Newkirk, who founded the organization 25 years ago.
MOUNT OLIVE -- Lula Newkirk doesn't know how many boxes of food her Helping Hands United Mission has given out over the past 20 years.
But it is probably more than 3,000 based on an average of 150 boxes a year for the past 20 years.
Helping Hands United Mission was founded 25 years ago by Mrs. Newkirk, and for the past 20 years it has provided the boxes of food at Christmas.
"We are preparing for our Christmas boxes this year," said Renee Newkirk, who is helping her mother with the project. "We are prepared to give out 150 boxes. We have two days set aside of where if you are in need, you come in and apply and fill out a registration form then come back on the delivery day which is the 20th (of December) and pick up the boxes."
Applications will be taken today and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the church.
The boxes will be ready for pickup from 11.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20.
Some will be delivered for those unable to pick a box up in person.
"We are excited," Renee Newkirk said. "We do this every year."
Each box will include a turkey with all the trimmings, fruits, cookies, desserts, bread rice, cranberry sauce, black-eyed peas and stuffing, she said.
Each year 150 boxes are planned, but there are always extra, Renee Newkirk said.
"We try not to turn anybody away," she said.
Volunteers began preparing boxes this past Tuesday. The turkeys will not be added until Dec. 20 when the boxes are distributed.
It is an annual project that people have become accustomed to, she said.
"We started receiving calls about three weeks ago saying, 'We want to sign up for the boxes,'" she said. "So they are looking for it."
Most of the food is donated.
Helping out this year include local individuals, Area Churches in Action, Mount Olive First United Methodist Church, Mays Chapel Church, Mt. Olive Pickle Co. and Mount Olive Presbyterian Church.