Hundreds of Wilmington area residents braved cold temperatures Thursday morning to receive food donated by the Feed The Children organization.
Over 12 truckloads of goods were handed out adjacent to Sugar Tree Ministries on Lincoln Street.
Many people standing in line had never asked for help before, but the recession and thousands of layoffs at the DHL Air Park made seeking assistance a necessity.
Wilmington Mayor Dave Raizk called the event a message of hope for the community's future.
Feed The Children President Larry Jones said once he heard about the economic troubles in Wilmington and Clinton County he had to help. "We're part of the answer," he said.
In addition to Wilmington, Feed The Children sent two trucks each to Hillsboro in Highland County and Washington Court House in Fayette. About 1,000 people were expected to be served in each of those communities.
Sugar Tree Ministries Director Allen Willoughgy said Feed The Children was the answer to his prayers. He said two weeks ago the food pantry shelves were nearly bare and he got down on his knees to seek help.
Jones said his organization will return to Wilmington again and again as long as there is a need.
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