The service committee at Surry-Yadkin allowed Gloria Best to speak to them about a possible benevolence project for Mount Airy Middle. After a discussion of the school's Hungry Bear Food Program, the committee voted to provide a month’s worth of meals to the MAMS students in need. The service group also proposed to sponsor Christmas gift support to the program's students.
The Hungry Bear Food Program is a needs-based system of sending weekend bags of food home to students who have an inconsistent food supply. Each Friday, students visit the Hungry Bear food room and take home a bag of food that contains enough items to eat for the weekend. Some food items include soup, oatmeal, Spaghettios, and non-perishable food items.
After voting, Surry-Yadkin committee representatives committed to serving a total of 34 students. Each child was sent home with a form to apply for Christmas sponsorship. As a result, the eligible children will receive a package of gifts for Christmas. The gifts include a pair of pants or jeans, a shirt, a pair of shoes or boots, and a toy or an age appropriate gift. A bag of food will be sent home with each child on Thursday accompanied by a note to parents. This notice will inform parents of a date and time to stop by and pick up the Christmas gift bags for their child. In some cases, it was possible to provide gifts for siblings of the MAMS student as well.
Our gratitude to these employees and the Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation is immeasurable! This is a donations-based program. When the community gets involved, we are fortunate and able to provide more services. The Hungry Bear Food Program is dependent upon funding from area churches, civic groups, and philanthropic individuals throughout Mount Airy and Surry County. Currently, an average of 38 students are served each week. This act of kindness was a tremendous gift to Mount Airy Middle School.
Those involved in bringing the food and gifts to MAMS were Adam Martin, Rhonda Hill, Kenny Mosley, Pam McMillian, Anna Culler, and Brian Kennedy. An extra thank you goes out to Mrs. Beth Flinchum. She was the Surry-Yadkin employee who led this project idea and allowed Best to meet with the company. Her time, effort, and generosity is very much appreciated.