Ways to give back this Christmas and holiday season
Community December 17, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Tis the season of giving back, and this year especially the community is coming together to help those in need.
Over 70 families, businesses, churches, and other organizations donated gifts and goods to Union County Family Connection so 545 local children can have a Christmas. More children are involved in the Christmas gift program than in previous years. However, more people have stepped up to shop for children. America’s Home Place is sponsoring a coat drive on Wednesday, December 23 for Family Connection.
Donations are filling up the Family Connection office. Image courtesy of Union County Family Connection.
The Holiday Food Drive is also in progress with drop-off locations at the courthouse and the Chamber of Commerce. Items on the needed list are peanut butter, jelly, cereal (low in sugar), liquid box milk, dinner kits, instant potatoes, dry pasta, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned soup, crackers, and fruit snacks.
Homestead Hospice and Palliative Care are accepting donations of new books and new pajamas for boys and girls from infancy to 12 years old. The dropoff locations are the Chamber of Commerce and courthouse.
SAFE has angel trees around town including SAFE thrift stores, Lucky’s, Brasstown Pharmacy Drug and Gun, Shawn’s Home Furnishings Inc, Downtown Pizza Co. Blairsville, Dan’s Grill, Melissa’s Custom Cakes, Sundance Grill, Cook’s Country Kitchen, and BenchMark Physical Therapy. Anyone interested in sponsoring someone this holiday season should visit these locations.
A food distribution is taking place on Saturday, December 19 at First Baptist Church from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with meat, produce, dairy, and bread. It’s sponsored by the Georgia Mountain Food Bank.
The HOPE Center at the House of Prayer is offering help for the holidays on Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Feed Union County 2020 initiative kicked off on Monday
Business, Community April 1, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – While many are adjusting to staying home, healthcare workers are working overtime to help keep everyone in the community safe. To show their appreciation, several organizations came together to form the Feed Union County 2020 initiative for those caring for the sick in Union County and for individuals in need.
The first soup drive was held on Monday, March 30 from 11:30 a.m. until the food ran out at Nani’s Restaurant. Marife Arrazcaeta, the owner of Nani’s, said she intends to continue the soup drive every Monday for individuals in need and for all first responders, elderly, families, nurses, and doctors.
Arrazcaeta spearheaded the effort inspired by Chef Jose Andres’ feed the hunger movement and began reaching out to other restaurants and food services in the community. For the first week, North Georgia Technical College Culinary Program donated vegetables, cream, and potatoes, and Foodland donated chicken.
“We are just trying to stay ahead of what is coming. We have been lucky we don’t a case jet. We will feed those who need it,” stated Arrazcaeta. “We are a strong tight community, and we are all in this together.”
Donations both monetary and food are welcomed and needed to continue the effort. Any restaurant interested in donating their inventory should contact Arrazcaeta at 706.745.0100. If someone would like to donate money to the effort, a fund is set up at BANK OZK under the name, “Feed Union County 2020.” The bank accepts cash, checks directly at the drive-thru window or please send donations to 51 D Earnest street Blairsville, Ga 30512.
Nani’s will be open to the public for to-go orders Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Here’s a list of resources available for those in need in Union County.
Also, if anyone would like a pick-me-up while working, teaching, or just stuck at home, check out Arrazcaeta’s update video’s on Nani’s Facebook page.
Editor’s note: Since receiving this quote, a positive COVID-19 case is being treated at Union General Hospital. The individual is a Towns County Resident.