To the Editor:

Since the very beginning of HomeFront over 20 years ago, we have fought against homelessness and hunger. We saw hunger in the dingy motel rooms which used to house homeless families. We see hunger now as families line up at our front office to collect a single bag of groceries. We have worried that as our pantry shelves would empty, how could we ever turn families away?

Now as we are finishing our two-month Stop Hunger Now campaign, we see our pantry fully stocked and our food account with money to help us through the tough summer months ahead. I breathe a sigh of relief. And I am so grateful for the overwhelming response from our community to our plea for help.

Schools, businesses, and organizations held food drives. Individuals gave food or money. Children with their parents shopped at Sam’s Club. Families collected canned goods. Others shopped at our virtual grocery store.

My heart fills with pride, as it is apparent to me that we will not tolerate hunger in our community. Thanks to you, HomeFront will continue to distribute over 2,000 meals a week to families who cannot afford to buy food. And thanks to you, I realize how truly blessed I am to live in such a caring and responsive community.

Thank you for the difference you are making in the lives of families in need.

Connie Mercer

Executive Director, HomeFront