
Last year, a group of teachers at the Warren Area High School started a food pantry there in order to help those students who were also “food insecure”. When a need for assistance for this group became public Hooktown Holidays, through our Board of Directors, came forward with the necessary funds. We presented a check for $1000 to support this, now, ongoing program at Warren Area High School. Now Warren Area High School has it’s own food pantry program. That’s just what happened when Hooktown Holiday’s came forward to support the children in the 6th through 8th grades at Beaty-Warren Middle School. We chose to take action by meeting with Principal Ann Ryan in order to begin a food pantry for the Beaty-Warren Middle School Children’s need for nutrition.
What we didn’t know until early this year is that there is no support for grades 6 through 8. Children at the end of grade 5 “age out” of the Backpack Program leaving them without nutritional support they require.
The new food pantry program will start at the beginning of this school year. Everything is in place and Hooktown Holiday’s has started if off with a donation of $750. The great thing is that we already have some strong support from area businesses and individuals. Shurfine Market has donated 10 cases of shelf-stable food and Ed Shults of Warren has donated $1000 to the program.
Hooktown Holiday’s is honored to initiate this program at the Beaty-Warren Middle School. We hope it be-comes the “blueprint” for other schools to follow in order to fill the need in their own communities. The need is so real. Hooktown Holiday’s is here to help and we are here to stay.
Hooktown Holiday’s started out small but in just three years has given over $32,000 back to the Warren County Community. We have become a solid organization in a short time and we are blessed to have the support of so many wonderful people … and not just from folks who lived in the Hooktown area at one time. We are a proactive organization reaching out to those in our community in need according to our Mission Statement: “To provide nutritious food, warm clothing and/or other necessities of life to individuals and families in need in our community” and take action when we can.
You can find more about Hooktown Holiday’s by visiting our website at hooktownholidays.org. Hooktown Holiday’s is a qualified 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization and donations are tax-deductible as allowed by U.S. law. We are board funded and EVERY PENNEY YOU DONATE is returned to our community. So please, tell a friend and get involved.
You can check us out on Facebook using the link at the bottom of the page.
Our greatest thanks for all of your support!
Terry