The First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia and Cornelia Elementary School are working together to make sure the needs of their community are met with a free food box giveaway.
“We’re here to serve the community,” says Fran Blackburn, Cornelia Elementary School’s interim principal. “We’re so excited that we’re able to have partners in that who want to help us serve them.”
The school will host the event this Saturday, during which school and church volunteers will give away free boxes of food to anyone who comes by between 10 a.m. and noon. There is no proof of need necessary.
“We know there’s a need for food,” says Brenda Boonstra, First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia treasurer. “So [when] we were given the opportunity [to help], and we just decided to jump at it.”
The school and church are hoping this event will help them connect with their Cornelia community and make sure their needs are met. Officials from both the school and church agree that building relationships are an important part of understanding a community’s need, and caring for their community by fulfilling that need.
“I think there’s a trust that the school has within the community here— the school community and the neighborhood— and that’s important for us as a church,” says First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia Pastor Rev. Andy Chambers. “Why not join in [with Cornelia Elementary] and work together as partners to develop the relationships there with the staff, with the students, families and serve in any way that we can?”
This is the second time the church and elementary school have worked together to host a food box giveaway, the first time being in September. Their goal is to do a giveaway on the first Saturday of every month to make sure no one in their community goes hungry.
“Ultimately, the whole purpose is to serve our community, take care of them,” says Cornelia Elementary School Assistant Principal Kevin Weems. “Particularly for me as an assistant principal— I do whatever I can to ensure that these children are not only taken care of here but also at home.”
The school is located at 375 Old Cleveland Road in Cornelia.
