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Samaritans need help

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

A local food bank has issued a plea for assistance from the community since food donations it normally receives have been diverted to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Fayette Samaritans, a volunteer group which assists local needy families, was down to a two- to three-day supply of food Wednesday afternoon. Money is the biggest need at this point, because it allows the Samaritans to buy whatever food is needed, said administrator Charlie Charping.

Checks can be made payable to Fayette Samaritans and either mailed to P.O. Box 1071, Fayetteville, GA 30214 or dropped off during the agency’s operating hours from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday at 126 Hickory Road, located at the rear of the Fayetteville Christian Church campus. Contributions are fully tax-deductible because the charity is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Those who would rather donate food or other items can also do so in person during operating hours. Of particular need are peanut butter and jelly, canned meat and tuna, canned fruit, beans and rice, pasta and sauce, fruit juices, personal care products, and new packages of men’s underwear.

Unexpectedly, a truck brought along an extra pallet of bread Wednesday morning, but it will take much more to get the Samaritans back up to regular speed, Charping said.

Money is the biggest need at this point, and the Samaritans can really stretch the dollars when it comes to buying food, thanks to the relationships crafted by Bob Beaty, who used to own a grocery store in East Point, Charping said.

“He’s a real good shopper,” Charping said, adding that Beaty also has developed relationships with food providers using his insider grocery knowledge.

Food Depot allows the Samaritans to purchase food at cost, and the Samaritans buy some food a few days before it expires, freezing it to preserve it, which adds up to more savings, Charping said. The group also uses buy-one, get-one free and other coupon deals offered in circulars for various stores, he added.

“The money going through here is spent very frugally,” Charping said, adding that the funds are considered “God’s money” and the agency should be held accountable for them. “

The Samaritans only spend 1.4 percent of their budget on administrative costs such as utilities. The staff is entirely made up of volunteers; no one is paid, Charping said.

Local grocery stores also help supply the Samaritans, which also gets frozen meals from several area Pizza Hut restaurants and from Smokey Bones in Peachtree City, Charping said.

The Samaritans served 22 families Tuesday alone, up from six or seven families a week just two years ago, Charping said. Normally, the Samaritans average between 15 and 16 or so families served a day.

“We’re trying our best to meet it,” Charping said, noting that the Samaritans are responsible for feeding and clothing hurricane victims who now call Fayette home at least on a temporary basis.

The Samaritans have waived their qualifying process for victims who have fled hurricane ravaged areas, he said.

One family that is on public assistance recently took in other family members who have fled the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina, and Samaritan staffers basically doubled their food order, Charping added.

Charping said he understood that food needed to be diverted to the areas in the gulf which have been massively damaged by the hurricane.

The Samaritans got their start years ago when 51 churches banded together to create a food bank to help local residents, Charping said. Each one of those churches was sent an emergency message to hold food drives and scramble together donations in light of the recent difficulties, Charping said.

Although it will take time for them to respond, many pastors have already replied that they will be able to help out, Charping added.