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Letter to the editor: Food ministry requests community’s help
Letter to the Editor generic

Dear Editor,

We are striving to be helpers one to another with dignity, showing love, compassion, empathy, humility, and charity to those in need. “Am I my brother’s keeper, YES, I am!”

“I was hungry, and you fed me.” Matthew 25:35

 In 2013, the vision was to help the members of the Liberty Tabernacle of Prayer for All People by joining the Second Harvest Food Bank in Savannah, Georgia, with the idea to just help our congregation when or if the need arose. The idea was presented to Leadership and approval was given to help those who found themselves in need. The application was completed, and the journey officially began in 2014.

Funding was by private donations, and that worked well for the first year. We wanted to be different and set apart from the other church food banks that distributed food in the area, so we decided to hold the distributions in the church fellowship hall, serving breakfast, coffee and juice to anyone that was hungry while they got their bags or just wanted to socialize. To our amazement, the community appreciated the kind gesture, and it became our signature. Soon people were coming just to sit, eat and talk. They were comfortable and free to talk to the staff. We got to know them, like family and friends.

We were serving about 287 people each month, and we thought that was great. We had no idea what change was headed our way due to time and conditions. In 2020, even though we were in a pandemic, we grew in so many ways, but nothing prepared us for serving 775 people each month — we amazed ourselves. 2021 forced us to distribute food to the community via drive-thru, and we served 1,366 people monthly. Here we are in 2022, and the pandemic is still affecting Liberty and surrounding counties — people are still in need (we are just two months into 2022), and we have fed 2,595 people. Funding now is done by our workers, and private donors. The Lord has truly blessed us to stay afloat, giving us much for little of nothing. While the pandemic has people losing so much, the Lord has made a way for us to serve the masses.

Over the years, the day-to-day operation and function of the program pushed us to become a non-profit entity (we are a 501c3 non-profit organization), 

 Living Together On Purpose (LTOP Angels of Mercy Food Ministry) — one people, “God’s People,” no matter the race, creed, color of your skin, or any other orientation.

Our volunteer numbers have increased, and due to our growth in distribution, we decided it was time to organize and legalize the non-profit. We now have a Board of Directors (a governing body) of 12 and a legal EIN number for bank and contribution purposes: Angelia Milton Kornegay, Founder and Program Director; Wade T. Kornegay, President; Angela Foster, Vice President; Tawanda Gibson, Treasurer; Brittney Ellis, Secretary; Elder Lemuel Johns, Chaplin, Board Member; Travis Fleetwood, Board Member; Lory McDaniel Fleetwood, Board Member; Jenell Lewis, Board Member; Karen Brown, Board Member; Benjamin McCullen, Board Member. Volunteers are Stacy Lewis, Oliver R. Kornegay, Pastor Charles Kornegay, Mary James, and our dedicated youth, Amiyah, Aydan, Aneysha, Breanna, Katavia, T’nya, and Sanaa. We also have a few out-of-town intermittent volunteers, Margaret Burnson (sponsor), Doris J. Cox, Faye Artis and Rev. Dr. Alex Cox. This is the LTOP Angels of Mercy Crew.

WE NEED THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY. We want to have our own land and facility to accommodate the needs of our community!

PLEASE DONATE! Mail checks to LTOP Angels of Mercy Food Ministry, 1272 Kelly Dr., Hinesville, GA 31313; call 912.980.1198; or Cash App at $LTOPAngelsofMercy.

 Food distributions are held the first Saturday of each month, unless otherwise noted, from 9 a.m. until noon, at 1272 Kelly Drive in Hinesville. These distributions remain for the year: March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, Aug. 6, Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Nov. 19 (Thanksgiving) and Dec. 17 (Christmas).

Angelia Milton Kornegay, 

Founder and Program Director LTOP Angels of Mercy Food Ministry.

The Coastal Courier welcomes letters to the editor. Letters cannot be libelous, and should be brief, typically 250 words or less. Letters may be edited for length, accuracy and clarity. No unsigned letters will be printed. Contact information, including the writer’s address and telephone number must be submitted with letters. We make no guarantee your letter will be published, though we will make every effort to print those meeting our guidelines. Send letters to editor@coastalcourier.com.

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