GFWC of NC SWC Take-Out Hunger Day 2024

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs of North Carolina (GFWC of NC) Statesville Woman’s Club (SWC) recently participated in their second GFWC National Day of Service with emphasis on Food Insecurity. The National Day of Service (NDS) is a day in which all of GFWC comes together in service to highlight an area of need, take action to address it, and raise public awareness about its importance.

The SWC once again hosted “Take-Out Hunger Day” and partnered with Yokefellow Ministry. This day benefited those in south Statesville who reside in a food desert – Food deserts are regions where people have limited access to healthful and affordable food due to low income or distance.

Through the generosity of these sponsors...Blythe Construction (monetary donation and 240 canned good for food drive); Erin Callahan with Fairway Mortgage (monetary donation); Gordon Foods (donated 17 #10 cans of Baked Beans); Food Lion (donated 500 water bottles and 500 hotdog buns); and Matthew 25 Ministries (donated all the hamburgers and hotdogs). Additional thanks to Blythe Construction who loaned their huge grill and one of their Superintendents Brian Arthur with a helpful friend that cooked the hamburgers.

SWC member volunteers filled a total of 530 boxes with a hamburger, hotdog, beans, chips and dessert. There were 395 meals at the Yokefellow Helping Center given out with an additional 135 meals delivered to families living in long stay (homeless) hotels without kitchen facilities and local subsidized housing residents nearby. The focus was to provide people of the Shelton Avenue/Hwy 21 corridor and their families with a hot meal that day. We cannot describe the joy and appreciation that came over some of the recipients. The best part of the event was always being able to say YES! It was apparent that many folks who came to the event were used to being told NO on a regular basis, it was so nice to see the relief and smile on their faces when we said…

“YES! You can take 2 more boxes to your grand babies.” “YES! You can take a box to your neighbor.”

The club also hosted a food drive benefitting Yokefellow, that brought in over 214 pounds of food to be distributed to those in need. But without community support and the partnership of others we could not have made such a big impact locally!

For information about renting the GFWC of NC Statesville Woman’s Club’s Clubhouse for your meeting or event, email the club at [email protected] or call 704-761-8208. The club website is www.statesvillewomansclub.org. Also, be sure to like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For details on joining the GFWC of NC Statesville Woman’s Club, please contact Membership Team member Joanna Gaither at 704-873-2684