PARIS, Tenn.—The Little Pantries of Henry County Organization will host a “40 Days of Giving” event during the season of Lent to promote community contributions to the little pantries in the county.
“Many people think of Lent as a time to ‘give up’ something, like eating chocolate or watching television,” said Kimberly Martin of the Little Pantries organization. “We’re trying to encourage people to think of Lent as a time for giving, rather than a time for ‘giving up.’”
The organization has prepared a calendar of suggested pantry items that could be donated for each of the forty days of Lent. The calendar is available for download on the organization’s website, www.littlepantriesofhc.com, and will also be available at numerous churches that will be participating in the donation drive.
“Each day, we stock food in multiple panties throughout our community, but the need is so great that they are often empty. I try to help people to remember when we see an empty pantry, it means someone has been fed. It means needs are being met,” said Pastor Emily Walker of the Little Pantries organization. “It takes all of us coming together to respond to the great need. We could really use the community’s help in stocking our pantries. Every item you give makes a difference.”
Donations to the 40 Days of Giving may be placed in any little pantry location throughout Henry County or may be delivered to a participating church. The Little Pantries volunteers are also available to pick up donations as needed. To schedule a pick-up or get a list of participating churches, email littlepantriesofhc.com or call Trinity United Methodist Church at 731-642-3427.
The Little Pantries of Henry County was organized by local Methodist churches in 2021 to help fight food insecurity in Henry County by erecting and supporting little pantries in the area. Since that time, the organization has expanded to include multiple churches and organizations with pantries throughout the county.
Food Pantries are located all over Henry County including: Atkins-Porter Recreation Center, Trinity United Methodist Church, Quinn Chapel AME Church, Wiley Chapel, Puryear United Methodist Church, Harrelson School, Inman School, Henry United Methodist Church, Oak Grove Missionary Church, Antioch United Methodist Church, First Christian Church and more.
Photo: Rev. John Dandridge and volunteers help set up the Food Pantry at Quinn Chapel AME Church in Paris in August of 2021. (Shannon McFarlin photo).