Interfaith Assistance Ministry, the largest provider of crisis services to Henderson County residents, is now accepting turkeys, hams, and holiday foods for its 2nd Annual Holiday Food Drive. Last year, IAM provided holiday meals to over 441 children and adults who needed crisis assistance during the holiday season.
While traditionally thought of as joyful, holidays are a difficult time for many of our neighbors struggling to make ends meet. They have to choose between providing a holiday meal or paying their rent, keeping the power on or putting gas in their car. Please consider hosting a Turkey and Ham drive or a Holiday Food Drive at your church or synagogue, your office, your civic club, school or neighborhood, said Elizabeth Willson Moss, IAM’s executive director.
“Holidays are hard when you are barely surviving and constantly struggling to pay for the basics -food, rent, utilities, transportation, medicine, clothing- or are homeless,” Moss said. “IAM’s goal is to provide every family or adult who seeks assistance during November or December with a complete holiday meal they can eat at home. We hope to take some of the financial stress out of the holidays for our local neighbors who are struggling.”
So far this year, IAM has assisted more than 1,800 more Henderson County Residents than last year, Moss said. In 2017, IAM provided services to more than 9,500 children and adults.
IAM needs donations of 6 to 10 pound hams and 10 to 15 pound turkeys as well as the side dishes to complete the meal– stuffing mix, gravy mix or canned gravy, sweet potatoes or yams, canned fruits, canned green beans and other vegetables, cranberry sauce, cake mix, icing and pie filling.
Please bring your donations to IAM at 310 Freeman Street, near the Blue Ridge Mall, Monday -Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Pickups for donations can be arranged by calling Interfaith at 828-697-7029. Holiday Food Drive Donations will be accepted from October 15 until December 21. Please mail contributions to IAM to purchase holiday food items to IAM at P.O. Box 2562, Hendersonville, NC 28793. You can also give financial donations via IAM’s website at www.iam-hc.org. All donations are tax deductible.
Holiday meals can be picked up beginning November 5. The last day to pick up a Thanksgiving meal is November 21 and the last day to pick up a Christmas meal is December 22. Please let IAM know if you can hold a food or Turkey and Ham Holiday Drive, said Moss.
Interfaith Assistance Ministry has been providing crisis services including food, clothing, help with heating, utilities, rent and other basic needs to Henderson County residents since 1984. Donations of new children’s shoes, socks and underwear and new or gently used linens are always needed. For more information about IAM, please call 828-697-7029 or visit iam-hc.org.