Lincoln, W.Va. – In the midst of a harsh economic climate, many local agencies still work to provide assistance to those in need. Basic supplies are provided to help individuals through the struggle.
 
The agency, Bread from Heaven is no different.
 
Based in Lincoln County since 1996, the Bread from Heaven continues to distribute nonperishable items to families and individuals in need.  Even in the midst of an economic hardship, Bread from Heaven is able to provide a valuable service to people who require assistance.
 
“We usually help about 300 families a month,” Wes Barthwick, director of Bread from Heaven said. “Around 90 percent of the food we receive comes from the Huntington Area Food Bank.”
 
The pantry is still able to provide each family in need with the services they require. Bread from Heaven has not seen a noticeable increase in the demand for their services in the past few months, according to Barthwick, even in the face of the current recession.
 
Bread from Heaven receives food and other supplies from the Huntington Area Food Bank (HAFB).  In turn, the HAFB operates on commodities from the United States Department of Agriculture, its affiliate Feeding America and donations from local donors to continue providing support to the member agencies.   As demand rises nationally, the HAFB relies more heavily on donated materials.
 
The HAFB and public relations students from the Marshall University (MU) W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SOJMC) will be holding an event next month in an effort to benefit Bread from Heaven and other local agencies. It also hopes to raise awareness about the hunger problem in our area.
 
The sixth annual Empty Bowls event will occur April 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1015 Fifth Ave., Huntington W. Va.
Empty Bowls is a collaboration of the HAFB and MU SOJMC, along with the MU College of Fine Arts’ Keramos Student Potter’s Guild.  The event will consist of a soup lunch, handcrafted bowls and a silent auction, featuring signed memorabilia and other prizes.
 
“Anything that helps raise awareness is a good thing,” Barthwick said. “You do get a blessing from it.”

# # #

The Huntington Area Food Bank, Inc., is a private, nonprofit, charitable organization affiliated with Feeding America, the largest hunger relief agency in the United States. The HAFB is the hub in a network of food donors and more than 290 agencies that serve hungry people in West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio. The HAFB assists food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, senior citizens programs, youth programs and residential programs that directly serve the needs of the hungry. The HAFB member agencies are located in 17 counties throughout the Tri-State area. All member agencies served by the HAFB are private and nonprofit. For more information, please visit www.hafb.org.