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 CRAIG HOLLYFIELD, MICHELLE AVERY and Advisory Board Chair Ken Tokutomi are shown with a pig purchased from the local 4-H program by area businesses and then donated to The Salvation Army. |
One man’s concern for his community’s less fortunate resulted in Feed the Hungry, a humanitarian project in Auburn, California. It began in 1990 when Craig Hollyfield came up with an idea to better feed the needy and asked The Salvation Army of Auburn to partner with him. The plan was to get businesses to donate money to purchase livestock animals from local 4-H kids and then to donate those animals to the Army’s food closet. Those who come to the Army for food would then receive some meat, which is not always available, in their food boxes.
The project has grown steadily in its 12 years and the past year was the most successful to date. According to Michelle Avery, the Auburn Corps’ director of social services, local businesses donated over $12,000 to purchase 4-H livestock: 2 1/2 steers, 9 1/2 pigs and 2 lambs. Within a couple of weeks of purchase the Army had meat for its food boxes, which is frozen and used throughout the year.
Another goal of Feed the Hungry is to show the youth that they, too, can help take care of the less fortunate. “This is a huge partnership,” said Avery, “with businesses, 4-H kids and the corps working together to feed the needy, including the low-income working poor and the seniors, in our community. Many lives are touched through this program.”
POINT 6
Direct resources
to mission.