Rutherford Weekly

FREE "YOUR POSITIVE MEDIA SOURCE" @Rutherfordwkly FREE Follow On Rutherford Town Revitalization Presents the Saturday, October 5 8:30am-5:00pm Main Street • Rutherfordton Our 21st Year • Issue No. 38 • September 19, 2013 • 828-248-1408 RUTHERFORDWEEKLY.COM Want to be a vendor? Call 828-287-2071 ©Community First Media 42nd Annual The Gilkey Story Dedicated To Feeding The Hungry By: M.A. Andrews • maandrews@rutherfordweekly.com VS SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22ND 1:00PM KICKOFF ON Director Chris Davis in front of Little White Country Church with two of her important volunteers, Jerry and Nancy Jones. Another key volunteer is Sharon Wilson (not pictured). The little building on the left is where the food is presently distributed. Mountain Village Chalets & Cabins ~FOR RENT~ 1 to 5 Bedrooms All Have Hot Tubs & Fireplaces 950 Main St. Chimney Rock, NC 704-472-3100 704-482-4888 704-472-5219 In 1996, a new pastor from Georgia, Scotty Poole of the Little White Country Church in Gilkey, felt the needy of Rutherford County should be helped. "For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in." (Matthew 25:35). Pastor Poole's mother-in-law in Georgia was directing a food ministry. A road trip was in order for members of the Little White Church to learn from her and do the same. In January 1997 the church began "The Neighbors Pantry". A parishioner and nurse, Chris Davis, decided to get involved. She was one of ten children who grew up poor on a farm in Bostic. She picked cotton, canned and worked on the farm. With a lot of hard work, she became a CPN and then nurse. She now heads the program on a volunteer basis and is instrumental in guiding "The Neighbors Pantry" over the years. She will tell you: "God drives me to do it! I saw a big need for this program in the county." The first building was a small eight foot by eighteen foot hunting cabin. Parishioners of the church donated food and toiletries. The pantry opened every Tuesday and Saturday for a few hours. The first month it assisted about 12 families. "The Neighbors Pantry" has grown over the past 16 years and now feeds over 400 families! You must realize that the operative word is "families". Families of four to seven or more. After outgrowing the little hunting cabin, the pantry moved outback of the Little White Country Church in a small storage space and was allowed to use the church's fellowship hall four times a month for distribution. Families show up two to three hours before distribution and the line wraps around the church. What must seem as the apex of this charitable outreach is that on September 28, the program will be moving to the old Gilkey School. The "GSCC Neighbors Pantry" also has been given a truck with an automatic lift from Mike Parton and wife Gail of Gilkey Lumber. The Partons have been very supportive of the pantry. In fact, the new pantry will be named "The Alma and Jess Parton GSCC Neighbors Pantry" in memory of Mike's parents who were also very supportive of the program. There are many stories of Jess Parton showing up at someone's house and giving them things needed. When he would hear of someone who was in need, he would take whatever they needed to their house. Alma and Jess were well known for being extremely generous to those less fortunate. Gilkey is one of fifteen townships in Rutherford County. It is a small, caring community. The best example of the people of Gilkey can be found in the giving nature of those volunteers who embrace "The Neighbors Pantry". This outreach of the Little White Country Church has a motto: "We are here to give a hand up, not a hand out!" In 2012 the pantry distributed about 400,000 pounds of food to the needy. Food is now distributed four times a month: two Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and two Friday afternoons from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Volunteers are needed because of the new facility and tremendous growth. If you'd like to volunteer you may call Chris Davis at 828-777-0091. Your reward may be like that of a bright eyed little boy who smiled and was so excited when they gave him an apple. INSIDE THIS WEEK'S ISSUE FOR INSERT Special Deals! Super Savings! This is the small hunters cabin where "The Neighbors Pantry" began in 1997. It initially served 12 families. The Ol' Gilkey School building will be the new home of the pantry. It will occupy 3000 square feet and three rooms which were formerly the schools kindergarten, first and second grades. A new loading platform has been added out back. Inside This Week Sports by Kevin Carver.....................18 Business & Services Directory..........16 Obituaries........................................28 Favorite Reader Recipes.....................6 Let's Talk Bible..................................29 Community News...............................8 Bob's Carolina Weather.....................20 Classifieds.....................................3-31 Church Happenings..........................29 NO CONTRACT TV + Internet + Phone with HD DVR & Roku ® (828) 382-0027 getnorthland.com Triple Play 99 $ 99 * per mo. for 1 yr *Limited time offer. Internet up to 6 Mbps. Cannot combine promotions. Offer valid for new customers and existing customers adding service. Exclusive of premium channels. Unlimited pricing limited to direct-dialed domestic calls. Fees, taxes equipment rental not included. Not available in all areas. See getnorthland.com/offers.

• Cover