HERTFORD
COUNTY
FILLING the NEED Feeding the Hungry STORY BY SARAH DAVIS PHOTOS BY LOU ANN GILLIAM A study of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is
Meherrin Baptist Church, First Baptist Church
eligible for the food, one must only produce
hardly necessary to know that the most basic of
of Murfreesboro and Murfreesboro United
evidence of Hertford County residence, such
needs for human existence is food.
Methodist Church.
as a driver’s license or utility bill. Each car may
Although the United States is a nation which
Begun in 2012 as an outreach project by
produces food in abundance - with from 30
the late Peggy (Mrs. Frank) Lowe, with financial
to 40 percent of the food supply wasted -
assistance in the form of a grant from Vidant,
Once the registration is complete with the
according to the USDA, just as basic as the need
the food bank serves from 120-150 families per
number of families to be served known, and the
for food is the fact that some people are unable
month.
truck arrives so it can be determined what is on
to fulfill that basic need.
Chairing the project is Colon Ballance, who
obtain food for as many as three families as long as the necessary paperwork is in place.
the truck, an equitable distribution of the goods
When individuals, for whatever reason,
reports that approximately 20 volunteers are
cannot meet that basic need themselves, they
needed each visit. Representatives from each of
According to Ballance, until the truck arrives,
can find help in Murfreesboro.
the sponsoring churches help as well as Chowan
it is not known what will be available. There are
Most prominent among those solutions
University students when the university is in
usually frozen meats, canned goods, bread,
is the monthly Mobile Food Bank. Coming
session. Often an entire athletic team will assist.
sweets and fruit.
begins.
once a month (third Tuesday afternoon) to the
Prior to the arrival of the truck from Food
The volunteers unload the truck, placing the
parking lot of Murfreesboro Baptist Church at
Bank of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, a group
selected items into a grocery cart to then be
200 West Main Street, the Food Bank is jointly
of registrars move among the cars that line
loaded into the waiting cars.
sponsored by Murfreesboro Baptist Church,
Broad Street waiting for the distribution. To be
16
As soon as a volunteer signals that all is ready,
