Albion-Homer United Way Helps Albion Food Distribution
The Community Table of Albion (CTA) has a new coordinator partially funded by the Albion-Homer United Way.
Virginia Garrison has been hired to oversee the day-to-day operations of the volunteer-based program. The retired nurse and long-time community member has been managing the food distribution under the umbrella of the Albion Health Care Alliance which received the United Way grant.
Garrison works with volunteers to distribute food three times a month from the CTA site at Albion College’s Wesley Hall. According to Rod Auton Albion Health Care Alliance administrator residents requesting food support has greatly increased through the pandemic. This increase in food support means that for the CTA to be sustainable, Auton said, staff is needed to manage day-to-day operations. The coordinator position is part-time but Garrison also volunteers additional hours, Auton said, to make the CTA a success.
In addition to managing food acquisition and distributions Garrison created a food pantry for emergency food needs. This pantry is open from 1 to 3 PM every Friday. Recipients may access this pantry at a door on the north side of Wesley Hall. For pickup of food at a different day time call 517-629-0842. There are no deliveries, no nighttime hours or baby supplies. Recipients can shop for only their households.
Garrison has also collaborated this fall with the Albion Community Gardens for fresh produce, continues to develop relationships with those who want to donate food and will be setting up future food education programs for people in the community.
“Food distribution would not be possible without the dedicated volunteers who give unselfishly of their time to make these tri-monthly events happen, “ Garrison said. “These volunteers are wonderful and work tirelessly to help meet the food needs of community residents.”
Albion-Homer United Way fundraising is underway according to Executive Director Marcia Starkey. Previous donors recently received mailed information on how to donate to help fund new grants during 2021-22, Starkey stated.
To allow AHUW to continue to support local organizations there are several good reasons to donate to the local United Way, Starkey said. These reasons include that donations fund Albion and Homer specific programs and that funding decisions are made by a local board. Donor lists are never shared with other agencies and payroll deductions make donating easier.
At any time donations can be mailed to AHUW, P.O. Box 55, Albion, MI 49224, made on-line at www.albionhomeruw.org or by contacting Starkey at 517-499-2563.
Board members are Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, Robert Hawkins, Ryan Hopkins, Art Kale, Isabell Nazar, Marc Newman, Gary Tompkins, Eddie Williams and Shane Williamson.
Virginia Garrison is the coordinator for the Community Table of Albion. She is responsible for food distribution and has recently set up an emergency food pantry. CTA is a community collaborative effort under the Albion Health Care Alliance.