“So if you have extra food share with your neighbors, bring it to me, and I will share it with people that contact me and are in dire need of food.”
– Laura Overholt, Albion Food Hub
Thanks to the senior mileage, 275 seniors in Albion and the surrounding area received the first delivery of food due to the Michigan governor’s executive order that people stay home to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Thanks to the coordinating efforts of Albion’s Mayor Dave Atchison, Albion Food Hub Facility Manager Laura Overholt, and United Methodist Pastor Leslee Fritz, the food was distributed in under two hours to representatives of various churches lined up in their cars behind the food hub last Thursday.
“The Southwest Michigan Food Bank has been working very hard to meet all the requests. The funding is there, but funding isn’t the only thing that’s needed,” explained Overholt. The Food Hub is a distribution point so that seniors do not have to risk infection while attending the regular food distributions on the second Thursday and fourth Tuesday of every month. Food and monetary donations are what make these distributions possible. “Things like that, because we have seniors and other families that are coming to us regularly that are out-of-work that need food and it’s not available.” Overholt continued, “So if you have extra food share with your neighbors, bring it to me, and I will share it with people that contact me and are in dire need of food.”
“We’re trying to prevent panic.”
Area churches are collecting names of seniors needing food, but more help is needed. “The volunteers that we need is to help people understand who is in dire need. We’re trying to prevent panic. There are more trucks coming to Albion,” said Overholt.
During Thursday’s distribution, Overholt learned of seniors having no access to food
During Thursday’s distribution, Overholt learned of seniors having no access to food and “That is what we’re trying to avoid. These were 20 seniors that are normally taken care of by family members that had been asked to stay home. They have no means to get out themselves, and they are in senior housing in the Albion area.”
In addition to the food delivered by the Southwest Michigan Food Bank, Overholt was able to order extra boxes of food from Sprout in Battle Creek. “Anyone can order their boxes. It is like a Farmer’s market online. They are working with us to get special boxes for seniors,” said Overholt.
For Marjorie Wilson of Albion, one of the seniors receiving the boxes delivered by Deacon Henderson Harris of Bethel Baptist Church, the food means feeding herself and her 100-year-old mother, Madear Harvard. “It means a lot. I am on a fixed income and I do take care of my mom, so it’ll help me a lot,” said Wilson. She is one of the several seniors who is practicing social distancing. “The governor told us don’t get out, so I am afraid.”
In another part of town, Pastor Ramona Truss of Transformation Through God’s Word ministries had to take a trailer to deliver all the meals needed at Peabody Place.
In another part of town, Pastor Ramona Truss of Transformation Through God’s Word ministries had to take a trailer to deliver all the meals needed at Peabody Place. Glen Farmer who lives there watches a lot of TV as he practices social distancing. “I really don’t want to catch the COVID virus. I am 70 years old,” said Farmer.
Each of the churches helping with the distribution has its own way of meeting the need for its members and neighborhood. Some do a call down to the seniors in their church. “I’ve contacted all of our seniors to see if they needed help. Of those, I called, there nine who needed a food basket.” Because no one is in the church office at this time, the phones are not checked as often as needed, but if someone in need leaves a message, they will help them it just may take a little longer to respond.
For more information about the senior distribution and volunteering or donating food, contact Laura Overholt at the Food Hub, 517-629-3343, and leave a message.
Others have received calls. “Joseph Branham a member of Christ Apostolic Church said there was a rush of calls to his church and was picking up 17 meals for his route distribution.
Micah Doerksen, one of the youth ministers at First Baptist Church said helping to distribute food was important to him. “We wanted to love on the older people in our church community,” he said. But the church was also delivering food to seniors who were not members but had contacted the ministers of their church.
Albion Mayor Dave Atchison was pleased with how smoothly everything went on the first distribution day. “I can’t say enough good things about Laura Overholt making all this work and Pastor Leslee Fritz from the United Methodist Church who is also coordinating all the churches, and of course, Councilwoman Lenn Reid once again volunteering her time.” He did have one concern, though. “We need younger people to come down and volunteer. We don’t want the elderly and seniors down here, and if you look who is down here, over half of them are over 68. We could use the youth of the community.”
Carol Smith, wife of Precinct 3 Councilman Al Smith, summarized why it is so important to volunteer during and after this crisis. “I was raised to give back to my community, and Albion is my community,” said Smith. “I just think it’s wonderful how the people of Albion have come together to serve the people of Albion.”
For more information about the senior distribution and volunteering or donating food, contact Laura Overholt at the Food Hub, 517-629-3343, and leave a message.
Please share this post with others by clicking on one of the icons below.
Pictures by Sylvia Benavidez
This story is reprinted with permission from The Recorder.
© 2020 The Recorder Newspaper. All rights reserved (About Us).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of The Recorder.
More Albion News about the Coronavirus Pandemic
100 Covid Deaths in Calhoun County
As of 3 p.m on Wednesday, Nov. 18, Calhoun County has a cumulative total of 4,496 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to Calhoun County Public Health
Thanksgiving meals amid COVID-19 spike
By SYLVIA BENAVIDEZ Contributing Writer November 19, 2020 Families, friends, and neighbors have long enjoyed the hospitality of a good meal at various Albion churches
COVID-19 Neighborhood Testing in Albion Michigan – 2020
Posted by Albion Health Care Alliance on Monday, November 30, 2020 Register for a test in advance by calling the COVID hotline at 1-888-535-6136,(and press 1).
The black-white divide continues in coronavirus deaths
By MICHELLE MUELLER Contributing Writer ©The Recorder April 23, 2020 As of today, over 40 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Michigan are African Americans. Yet only 14
How one Albion man is making a difference: Sewing face masks to help people feel better
By MICHELLE MUELLER Contributing Writer ©The Recorder April 2, 2020 Twenty three. That is the number of confirmed local cases of COVID-19, the disease caused
Albion Churches Online
Churches are moving online with the Michigan Stay At Home order due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Follow your own church, or visit a new one with this Guide.
Data shows that African Americans are dying from COVID-19 at a higher rate
By MICHELLE MUELLER Contributing Writer ©The Recorder April 2, 2020 Albion resident Maurice Barry has already lost a first cousin to COVID-19. “I didn’t even
Easy Cloth Face Mask from CDC
Let’s all do our part to wear cloth face masks. These masks protect others, as well as ourselves. Remember to not touch the main part
Albion – Monday, March 23, 2020
The city of Albion closed all nonessential city operations effective at 12:01 AM on Monday, March 23, as a result of the growing number of
