With all due apologies to “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Moore
'Twas a week before Christmas, when all through Wake County towns,
Neighbors were stirring, making their rounds,
Boxes were packed with food and care,
In hopes that meals for Guard families would soon be there;
An accurate description of the friends and neighbors of PORCH, People Offering Relief for Chapel Hill-Carrboro Homes, who via a network of volunteers and business sponsors gathered 40 thousand pounds of non-perishable food and hygiene items to date for western Wake County based North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) families in need this Holiday Season.
"We recognize there is a big need in our (western Wake County) community," said Maria Madsen, a leader with PORCH.
The food donations provided several full meals for families recommended by NCNG Family programs. Family program coordinators took requests from individuals, families and leaders of Soldiers and Airmen.
Gathering the food is a yearlong mission for PORCH. Each week PORCH leaders pick up donations in their neighborhoods and brought them to PORCH leader, Sharon Lake-Gargano's garage. There the donations were sorted in boxes designed to provide several complete meals for a family.
"Our network of donors are wonderful and we are always looking for more," said Madsen.
The meals were a valuable tool for NCNG Family Programs. The meals met an immediate need but also are a financial multiplier. Soldiers and Airmen caught between jobs, hit by a sudden emergency expense, missing work due to illness and the list goes on.
"The food isn't just a meal, the money that would have gone for the meal pays rent, Christmas gifts and other expenses," said Lisa Faison, NCNG family assistance specialist.
NCNG Army Col. Miriam Hayden, NCNG's Senior Human Resources Officer, awarded a plaque at a ceremony at NCNG headquarters, Dec. 23, 2019, honoring PORCH for their many years of donations that helped hundreds of NCNG families in times of need.
"They represent the goodness in our communities," Hayden said.
| Date Taken: |
12.24.2019 |
| Date Posted: |
12.26.2019 09:34 |
| Story ID: |
357167 |
| Location: |
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: |
61 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Wake County Organization Christmas Donation to NC Guard Family Programs, by SFC Robert Jordan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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