Non-profit organization proving food for needy, fans for senior citizens
Photo submitted
By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer
A lot of nights when Anissa Butler and her three siblings had something to eat, it was because their mother went to a food bank earlier in the day.
Some days, Butler recalled, they would go looking for food giveaways with their mother. Lucile Butler didn’t just grab enough for her and her children, though.
She got enough to feed quite a few others in their small Attapulgus, Ga., community with a population of fewer than 1,000.
A lot has changed for the family since relocating to Havana in 2007. Lucile has gotten a little older and her children are now adults.
Their mission remain the same, just like when they were kids.
A lot of families in Havana have been able to eat because of the effort of the Butler’s. They’ve organized, naming their non-profit Blessing of Hope Empowerment Outreach.
Todd, Hondrea and Latina Butler, each has an important role, said Anissa, second oldest of the children. They’ve committed to seeing that other families could eat by setting up a food distribution a few times each month.
Those days could be labor intensive, but remembering their childhood days drives their benevolence, said Anissa.
“Only people who have been through something can do this type of work,” she said. “You’ve got to be chosen and called by God and called to this work. I know what it’s like to sleep on the floor.
“We decided we wanted to get into this; helping people, giving back to people that gave to us. God has blessed us with so much.”
During the summer months, the family does a little more than food. They run a fan drive to make summertime living conditions manageable for senior citizens. The drive had a slow start in May but Butler is hoping that they could top last year’s total of 80 fans.
Beneficiaries of the fan giveaway have to be age 55 or older. As of late last month, the organization reported collecting 16 fans and a little more than $700 to make additional purchases.
Donors can reach out to the organization through its Facebook page. While air conditions are considered a premium, they have already received one from a Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Tallahassee. An elderly disable resident with health issues will get the AC, the organization said.
Meanwhile, the food drives will continue. Residents like Daisy Hardy say it’s a lifeline.
Food drives during Christmas and Thanksgiving have been especially helpful to her and her grandchildren, Hardy said.
“One year they blesses us with not only food from Farm Share (but) they turned around and bought us food to help feed my family and my grandkids,” she said. “They have been doing a lot for families and I thank God for it.”
Lucille estimates that a food drop will bring in about 4,000 pounds. Her children have purchased a storage unit and use it as a pantry.
What she sees is “overwhelming,” Lucile said. “And I thank God for it. The things my children are doing, I could never tell you just how much it means to me.”
