Food for Thought: Let’s Share Our Blessings This Holiday Season

Doug Reynics

I am someone that will give, sometimes to a fault. My wife and I had a challenging year in 2020 but have done better this year. If you follow my stories, you know I like to write about many food-related topics, not just restaurants and reviews. I’ve written about canning, dehydrating, food waste and food insecurity.

I am a frequent donor and contributor to NETWORKS Cooperative Ministry, a wonderful organization that addresses food insecurity in the Tucker community. NETWorks partners with nineteen churches, as well as other organizations and the City of Tucker; its stated mission is to share the hospitality of Christ by addressing the food and financial needs of residents, and to partner with them to find long-term solutions to poverty. The organization’s service area is about thirty-nine square miles that includes all of Tucker and then more area north and west of Tucker. (Check an address on their interactive service map at networkscoop.org/service-area.)

Prior to the pandemic, the Atlanta Community Food Bank estimated there were 17,600 people facing food insecurity in this service area. Of that number, 40% work and 32% are children. Typically, a person facing food insecurity averages seven months in that situation. During the pandemic, those numbers went up by 40% for adults and 50% for children. (Now that school is back inperson, the numbers for children dealing with food insecurity may have come down slightly.)

The NETWorks approach to helping families comes from a philosophy of mutuality - we’re all in this together, and we’re all dealing with some sort of brokenness. NETWorks works with our neighbors - some neighbors volunteer, some neighbors donate, and some neighbors need food. Remember when you were a child, if your mom was making something and ran out, she’d send you next door to the neighbor to borrow a cup of sugar or flour or something? NETWorks uses the same approach—you’re short of food, come get some food. No worries about repaying us, no shame, no stigma. It’s neighbor helping neighbor.

The NETWorks pantry is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 2380 Fourth Street in Tucker. While it also provides financial assistance for rent and utilities, unfortunately, there are usually more requests than funds available. People needing assistance can call 770.939.6454 x100 to leave a request and a volunteer will get back to them. (Anyone interested in assistance should first check their address on the NETWorks website to verify eligibility. There are some exceptions related to church membership or school enrollment.) NETWorks relies on donations from the community of food, personal care items and funds. During COVID, it pared down the list of food distributed through the pantry; that list is available at networkscoop.org/covid. Donations of non-perishable food items and personal care items can be dropped off outside the NETWorks building Tuesday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 to 3:00 p.m. Orders also can be shipped directly to NETWorks from Amazon, Walmart or any online distributor.

Financial donations can be made through this special Our Town Dekalb campaign in a few ways: 1. Text 44-321 and type in the subject line OURTOWN to get a link to the donation page. 2. Go to bit.ly/DougsOurTownDeKalb.

As we celebrate our blessings this warm and wonderful holiday season, I ask that you remember those less fortunate with a donation if you are able.

Doug Reynics is a longtime Tucker resident and self-described “foodie.” Many know him as “Doug the Driver,” who provides rides to and from both the domestic and international airport terminals. (To date, his service has provided 1,650 airport rides!) If you have a food story or question you would like to see him write about, email him at dougthedriver1@gmail.com.