StarTek Hosts Storehouse's Largest Food Drive

Picture: (From Left) Travis Adkins and Nancy Nelson, Community Storehouse; Angela Allanson and Katie Muehleck, StarTek.

StarTek in Collinsville has wrapped up an employee food drive, benefiting the Community Storehouse Hunger Elimination Project. This two-week drive was the largest to ever benefit the Community Storehouse since its opening in 2001.

StarTek offered its over 700 employees incentives to donate, and the response was tremendous. Canned goods and cereal numbered over a thousand items. "Our warehouse hasn't been this stocked in years," said Nancy Nelson, Executive Director of the Community Storehouse; "It couldn't have come at a better time," she added.

The Community Storehouse has seen their new client averages double over the past three months and are projected to tripple by the beginning of the year.

"I'd like to thank all the employees of StarTek for all their work; a special thanks is due to Katie Muehleck, Professional Recruiter who worked with me in organizing this event," said Travis Adkins, Assistant Executive Director of the Community Storehouse.

Memorial Hosptial Food Drive

The Martinsville Memorial Hospital has wrapped up an employee food drive, benefiting the Community Storehouse. "The hospital is big on community service; there's always an activity going on," said Christy Stutts, OR Director at the hospital.

The benefit began with a recent article printed in the Martinsville Bulletin featuring the needs of the Community Storehouse Food Pantry. Stutts took the idea for the food drive to a Director's meeting and from there, organized the event. "I'm so glad we could help," Stutts added.

Employees brought nonperishabe food, baby necessities, household needs and personal hygiene items to the hospital. Each unit collected the donations during lunch and at the conclusion of the event, donations numbered in the hundreds. Employees also collected money, amounting to over $600.

"It's amazing what's been accomplished in such a short time," said Travis Adkins, Assistant Executive Director of the Community Storehouse, who worked with Stutts in organizing the event. "We'd like to thank the Administration and all the employees of the hospital for this generous benefit, and especially Christy Stutts for her interest and work in organizing it," he added.

Fontaine Ruritan Club Presents $1,000 Check

The Fontaine Ruritan Club has donated a check in the amount of $1,000 to benefit the Community Storehouse. "We'd like to thank the Ruritan's for all they do for the community, and especially for partnering with us every year," said Nancy Nelson Executive Director for the Community Storehouse. The check was presented by Mike Williams, Vice President of the Fontaine Ruritan Club.

Food Lion Presents $2,500 Check

Food Lion has presented a check in the amount of $2,500 to the Community Storehouse. The funds are from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation. "We'd like to thank all the local Food Lions, as well as the Food Lion Charitabe Foundation for all they've done to help the community; we're proud to be partners with Food Lion," said Nancy Nelson, Community Storehouse Executive Director. The check was presented by local Food Lion Manager, James Hodges.

Tarheel Tobacco Food Drive a Success

We'd like to thank Mary Martin and Tarheel Tobacco for hosting one of the most successful food drives of the year. In total, the food received amounted to over 500 items in 2 weeks.

The picture depicts Travis Adkins, assistant director for the Community Storehouse presenting Mary Martin of Tarheel Tobacco with a certificate of appreciation.

Storehouse Accepts Check from Colonial Downs

Recently, Colonial Downs hosted a charity event donating money for local charities to take a chance in winning a race. The Storehouse was one of the selected participants and won $21.00.

The picture depicts Brent DeHart, site manager of Colonial Downs and Travis Adkins, assistant director of the Community Storehouse.

Storehouse Participates in Coat Drive

Debra Buchanan, Henry County Supervisor organizes a yearly coat drive for the areas children who otherwise would go without adequite outerwear during the winter.

This year, the Storehouse proudly participated in the effort by donating coats that had been stored from last year's season.

TARHEEL TOBACCO Food Drive DRAWING

We are wrapping up a food drive, sponsored by Tarheel Tobacco and Mary Martin, Henry County School Board member through which we've already received over 200 items of food!

You can still drop off any nonperishable food item (macaroni & cheese, oatmeal, canned goods, etc.) to Tarheel Tobacco, located at 1874 Virginia Ave. and you could win!

The more you give, the more chances you have to win!


First Prize $20 gift card to Tarheel Tobacco

Grand Prize Bailey's Suite Race Ticket

You'll be honored to sit in the Bailey's Suite, have lunch and watch the upcoming Bailey's 300 in class and comfort at Martinsville Speedway!

The drawings will take place Friday. For more information, contact Mary at (276) 666-2377.

Liz Stone & County Admin. Ongoing Food Drive

Liz Stone and other Henry County Administration staff regularly donate boxes of cereal to the Storehouse. To date, they have donated hundreds of boxes. The picture depicts this weeks donation of cereal.

Thank you for your tremendous support!

Storehouse Receives Grant from Food Lion

The Community Storehouse has received $2,500 from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation. The Storehouse will use the gift to purchase food for their community food program.

“On behalf of our organization and clientele, I‘d like to thank Food Lion for all they‘ve done over the years to assist agencies such as ours, in a unified effort to one end - the elimination of hunger and poverty in our communities,” said Nancy Nelson, Executive Director.

Established in 2001, the Food Lion Charitable Foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to improving the communities in which Food Lion operates.

The Foundation places an emphasis on the support of primary and secondary education, feeding the hungry, and organizations that enhance the quality of life in Food Lion’s local communities.

Storehouse Public Open a Success

The picture above depicts the line awaiting the opening today.

As announced, the Community Storehouse opened its thrift store to the public today, in an effort to generate more funds to sustain the community food program and the opening was a success.

We'd like to thank the community for their support. The thrift store will be open every Thursday 11am - 3pm.

Back to School

Thanks to the generosity of area retailers and individual donors, we regularly provide new shoes, school supplies, winter coats and school clothes to needy children and teens in our area. During the upcoming school year, we will be working with community schools to meet needs identified by teachers and administrators.

Storehouse Benefit Concert

A Southern Gospel Benefit Concert with the Whisnants will be held at Freedom Baptist Church, located at 790 Irisburg Rd., Axton. Tickets for adults are $10 in advance & $12 at the door. Kids, ages 6-12 tickets are $5 in advance & $6 at the door; children 5 and under, admitted free.

All proceeds from the concert will benefit our food program.

Tickets are now on sale at the Community Storehouse, Freedom Baptist Church & online at http://www.communitystorehouseofmhc.org/.

Phillip & Ellen Clark, Top Individual Donors

Phillip & Ellen Clark are our current top donors of food and goods; they have donated hundreds of boxes of cereal alone.

Mrs. Cark also spends her time volunteering in our thrift store every week.

THANK YOU for all your contributions!

Thrift Store Opens to the Public

The approximately 5,000-square-foot thrift store, at 210 Cleveland Ave. in Martinsville, now is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays. It offers such items as clothing (men’s, women’s, children’s, plus sizes and maternity), accessories, shoes, undergarments, household items, furniture, toys, baby supplies, bedding, books and housewares.

Until now, only those whose income qualified them for help could shop at the thrift store. Despite the change, the main goal of the shop remains — to help supply the needs of the less fortunate, according to Nancy Nelson, director of operations of the Community Storehouse.

Nearly all of the items cost only 10 cents each. Large furniture items, nicer electronic items and large appliances are priced higher but still far below the items’ worths.

Nelson said the purpose of opening the thrift store to the public is to generate more income for the Community Storehouse, which offers a variety of programs to combat poverty and hunger and their causes as well as family crises, Nelson said.

The storehouse has an annual operating budget of about $100,000 and at times runs in the red. Nelson said that because the thrift store sells thousands of clothing items a week, having a price of generally 10 cents an item could generate much needed income. Most items in the store are donated, and most — but not all — are used.

The storehouse receives income from an annual television station telethon and donations from some churches, businesses, organizations and individuals, Nelson said. It also frequently seeks grants, often with limited success, Nelson said.

Full Article - Appeared in the Martinsville Bulletin - By PAUL COLLINS

Nancy Kennett, Newest Partner

Nancy Kennett, general manager of Kelly Services in Martinsville is our newest Stop Hunger Partner!

Mrs. Kennett regularly volunteers her time and expertise to Storehouse clientele by hosting monthly employment workshops; this alone, has allowed us to provide a new free of charge program!

In addition to partnering with us and volunteering her services, Mrs. Kennett is one of our top individual donors of food and goods.

THANK YOU for all your contributions!