By Lisa Shipman
Sunday, March 8, 2015 | 11:03 PM
https://hbtv.us/news/?story_id=2551
The ice and cold temps gave way to beautiful blue skies and warm weather which made for perfect conditions for local volunteers to bag 8,400 pounds of apples which were donated by Crow Mountain Orchards to aide local food ministries. Around 100 volunteers of all ages representing local churches gathered on Saturday morning to bag the apples into five pound bags to be distributed by area churches. Twelve churches from Haleyville, Double Springs, Arley, Guin and Russellville were on hand to accept the fruit to be distributed through their ministries. Some apples were to be disbursed through food pantries and others through backpack buddies for school age children to be eaten on weekends when school lunches are not provided. Singing, laughter and prayer could be heard as the community worked side-by-side to help those in need.
The Society of St. Andrew is a non-profit organization which works with local farmers to ensure no crops go to waste but reach those in need. Farmers agree to open their fields or orchards to volunteers to collect food left over after the harvest. James Caldwell and Johnny Long coordinated the local crop drop with First Baptist Church. They arranged for transportation from the Crow Mountain Orchards in Fackler, Alabama and kept the apples warm over night before volunteers arrived to bag the fruit.
There was no cost to the local agencies receiving the donated fruit. Funding for the Society of St. Andrew comes from individuals, churches and foundations. They receive no government funding for the gleaning program and operate crop drops across the country.
For more information about future crop drops, follow the group on Facebook at Society of St. Andrew – Alabama or go to their website at endhunger.org The Society of St. Andrew is a non-denominational faith based group and many denominations were represented locally at the bagging and distribution event. Working together to bag the apples were young and old Christians from various churches. A prayer team ensured the apples and efforts of the volunteers were prayed over through every step of the process. The fruit will be filling and nutritious for the body while the prayers will be good for the soul of all who receive.