While the adults walked away with boxes promising a delicious Sunday dinner for their families, Easter egg hunts were held for the kids.
The Rev. Toure Marshall, the church’s pastor, said the gathering was a success and hopefully one of many to come. “Today is kind of the prototype, a mix of fun, mentoring, food and community building,” Marshall said. “We hope to hold these more frequently because people need to eat every day.”
The kids — almost all of whom utilize free and reduced lunches at school — traded in their colorful Easter eggs for some of the $5,000 worth of donated prizes that included bicycles, scooters and American Girl dolls. Hot dogs and a bouncy castle were also available.
Almost 1 in 4 children in North Carolina is food insecure on a regular basis, one of the highest rates in the country, according to the Association of Feeding America Food Banks. More than 80 percent of households receiving food assistance in the state don’t know where their next meal is coming from.
“We’re trying to address the issue of food insecurity in our community and having a real Easter dinner is a good start,” Marshall said. The children “eat at school, but the biggest gap is always on the weekends.”
Source: Faith-based organization provides Easter dinner for 300-plus families | Local News | journalnow.com