Food ministry has busy week
MIDDLEBURG – The Food Bridge food ministry at Middleburg United Methodist Church had a banner week April 21 at its weekly food distribution. Volunteers gave 234 bags of groceries plus pet food to 183 families that included 510 people, of which 107 are seniors, 175 children, 41 vets and 158 disabled. That’s not even counting the 41 food deliveries made to homebound. On April 25, Food Bridge was the recipient of a $1,500 Special Judge’s Award presented at the Celebrate Clay event conducted each year by the Paul E. and Klare Reinhold Foundation.

“Operation Round Up” donates $3,000 to Salvation Army of Clay County
MIDDLEBURG – The Salvation Army in Clay County recently received a $3,000 grant from Clay Electric Cooperative as a part of the co-op’s “Operation Round Up” program. The program “rounds up” Clay Electric members’ bills to the nearest dollar to generate and collect charitable donations to benefit organizations in the community. One of nine grantees in April, The Salvation Army Clay County Corps will use the funds to purchase and repair instruments for its Performing Arts School. This school seeks to expose young people to a quality music education and to encourage a love of the arts regardless of their financial situation. Classes are offered in piano, guitar, brass, percussion, and dance. “We are grateful that Clay Electric has selected us as a recipient of this grant. I’m excited to see the look on the kids’ faces when they see the new equipment.” From left are Steve Hollingsworth of Clay Electric’s Orange Park District, Lt. Jeff Marquis Salvation Army Corps Officer and Jimmy Wilson, a Clay Electric board member.

Hunger doesn’t take a break
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – For the fifth year in a row, employees of Comcast helped pack food donations for Blessings in a Backpack at Charles E. Bennett Elementary School. On April 22, during Comcast Cares Day, volunteers packed more than 200 bags full of food donated by Comcast. Blessings in a Backpack, with national headquarters in Louisville, Ky., provides weekend meals to students so they can focus on homework and not have to worry where their next meal is coming from. Backpacks include nutritious, easy-to-prepare, ready-to-eat foods, like granola bars, a breakfast drink, mac and cheese and oatmeal. Blessings in a Backpack is sponsored by the Magnolia Point Women’s Club.