Gifts that God’s Helping Hands receives to help feed the needy are inspiring.
“A man came by the other day and handed me $900 in cash,” Richard McCool said as volunteers distributed boxes of food to families at the Free Will Baptist Church in Eufaula Saturday morning. “Another drove up in a pickup and handed me a check for $1,500. Another came by and said he heard we were having this deal and gave me $500.”
“Once a little old lady came to me with two cans of green beans and said here’s for your Christmas,” he said.
It costs between $5,000 and $10,000 to feed the recipients of the boxes.
Money comes from a variety of sources, including individuals and businesses.
Food also comes from a variety of sources, donations from the schools, churches, and other organizations.
After 2 ½ decades, contributions are still going strong.
“It’s a God thing,” he said.
It’s been a God thing with God’s Helping Hands for 25 years.
The charitable organization was founded by McCool 25 years ago.
It began distributing boxes of food the following year.
“We were too busy getting started that first year,” he said.
It didn’t take long for him to recognize the need.
This year God’s Helping Hands will feed 224 families, which is up from last year, when 181 families received boxes filled with enough food to last three or four days around Christmas – ham, vegetables, bread, potatoes, canned fruit, dessert.
“We peeked out at 400. It depends on the economy. All things considered; we average about 224.”
Folks in need sign up for the box’s weeks in advance at the organization’s office at 600 Border St., which also acts as a food pantry and clothing distribution center.
“We don’t ask questions about their need or anything else,” he said.
The basis for signing up is if you are in danger of not having a nice family dinner for Christmas.
“They can come here and get a box filled with ham and all trimmings – potatoes, veggies, canned fruit, cookies, dessert and a Christmas card with the manger scene with a baby Jesus card explaining why we have Christmas,” he said.
McCool received his own personal gift at God’s Helping Hands five years ago.
His future wife, Alicia, was among the volunteers distributing food that year.
They met, fell in love and were married four years ago.
She was a God send.
