Farmer Tim Haynes had a good year so he decided to give back. His first impulse was to write a check to alleviate hunger. He then asked other farmers and business groups to do likewise. Quickly, Tim’s informal campaign to feed hungry families had accumulated $12,000.
Haynes decided the funds would be awarded to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, a nonprofit led by Deb Treesh, Executive Director. Treesh suggested the two of them approach the owners of Albright’s Meats and Deli in Corunna, Indiana. The grocery store offered a substantial discount that resulted in the purchase of 38,400 pounds of chicken. A large portion of that chicken was then given to Community Harvest Food Bank where Treesh serves on the board of directors.
“We are absolutely delighted with the generosity from our friends in Noble County and elsewhere,” said Carmen R. Griffith, Interim Executive Director, Community Harvest Food Bank. Griffith said the chicken will be made available to member agencies—churches and nonprofit groups—located in each of the nine counties of northeast Indiana. That regional distribution network will then provide the chicken to hungry families for the holidays.
On Thursday, December 17, Haynes and Treesh gathered donors and representatives at Albright’s store in Corunna to celebrate their project of alleviating hunger during the holidays. In attendance were Haynes, Treesh, donors Sarah Delbecq of Brechbill Farms, Inc., Noland Johnson, Noble County Farm Bureau and Danielle Aldrich, farmer. Also present were three representatives from Albright’s: Roseanne Stafford, Suzanne Stafford, and David Albright.