PICKENS COUNTY — The final donation is in and S.H.I.N.E. will soon be operating more efficiently to feed the area’s hungry using a new refrigerated truck.
Getting the truck and finding a way to better transport donated food items has been the objective of a six-month-long fundraiser shared by S.H.I.N.E. (Stopping Hunger in Nearby Easley), Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Thrivent Financial Foundation.
The foundation, an off-shoot of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a financial planning organization, issued a challenge grant for which Emmanuel Lutheran in Easley applied. Together, the church and S.H.I.N.E. raised $1,000 since October. Thrivent presented the second of two $5,000 to S.H.I.N.E. Thursday.
David Crow, chairman of the S.H.I.N.E. board of directors and general manager at Benson Ford, said the truck will help move donated goods more efficiently.
Founder and Executive Director Judy Burns said the refrigeration of the truck will be a big help during summer months when transporting frozen products in the August heat. On a weekly basis, local Wal-Mart and Publix grocery outlets help provide the needs of hungry people in the area, she said.
Currently the food items are moved on borrowed truck without refrigeration.
Major funding was provided for the church’s portion of the fund raiser came from estates of Ed and Irene Schlosser.
Crow said he hoped the truck could be obtained within about 30 days. In addition to use by S.H.I.N.E., Crow said agreements are in the works for the truck to be used for other aid agencies.
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