Veterans and volunteers help feed families in need

PHENIX CITY, AL (WTVM)- From serving our country to serving the community in East Alabama, veterans and volunteers with the Mission Continues welcomed members of other organizations to help feed the hungry across the Chattahoochee Valley.

The call to help others, coming in loud and clear for former members of the Armed Forces like Silhouette Jones, who decided to start donating her time to Mission Continues thanks to a friend's recommendation.

"A very close friend of mine sent me a flier that they were feeding the Valley, Jones said. "Oh, that looks like fun. Let me go do it."

Dozens of Jones' peers, leading a line of cars pulling into the Mother Mary Mission building off Seale Road in Phenix City, and placing boxes full of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and sweets for families in need.

Other veterans from other organizations, like Benita York with the Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority, Inc., were happy to pitch in and prepare the goods supplied by Feed the Valley Food Bank.

"We've been pretty busy,"  York said as soon as her group arrived, Mission Continues staff had already handed dozens of boxes, since early Saturday morning. "We just jumped right in," she said.

"As we've gotten out there and done more of these,  we've had people coming up to us," said volunteer Alexandria Williams. Williams said this is what she often hears: "Oh, I didn't know about Mission Continues. I really like what you're doing. I want to help."

Whether or not volunteers give away all of the hundreds of boxes of goods they've prepared, Jones and the group want their neighbors - and their families - to know they are here to help no matter what.

"It's just a part of who we are. It's out core values," Jones said."To be able to carry those core values not only through our children but through the rest of our lives, even after our service, is just a blessing."

Copyright 2018 WTVM. All rights reserved.