HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Taking a bad situation and doing something to help those in need is the way officials with Facing Hunger Foodbank and the Salvation Army in Huntington are describing a recent donation from the Target store in Barboursville.
The store at Merritt Creek Shopping Center in Barboursville closed Feb. 2 due to a hill slip that caused damage to the storeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s building and foundation. Following the closure, Target representatives immediately contacted Facing Hunger Foodbank, according to Samantha Edwards, chief development officer with the organization.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œRepresentatives from Target reached out shortly after their closing and advised that they had a large volume of perishable items that they would like to donate,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Edwards said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe are saddened by the situation but remain thankful to them for their ongoing support to help those in our community who are living with food insecurity.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Edwards said Facing Hunger Foodbank received 5,141 pounds of food products from Target, including frozen food, dairy products, water and other beverages.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis represents 4,284 meals we will be able to provide those at the center of our work,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ she said.
Edwards said as a member of Feeding America, Facing Hunger has an established partnership with Target and regularly receives food donations from its local stores.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIn 2023, we received nearly 20,000 pounds of food from Target alone,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ she said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThey are wonderful community partners.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Facing Hunger Foodbank distributed other perishable items from Target to Marshall Food Pantry and Christ Temple Church in Huntington for its regeneration grab and go pantry.
Facing Hunger Foodbank then gave the Salvation Army in Huntington 820 pounds of the perishable items donated by Target.
Lieutenant Isaiah Rector of the Salvation Army said the food products will be used for the organizationÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s food pantry.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe Salvation ArmyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s food pantry provides vitally important food to local individuals and families in need at no cost to them,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe believe this work will create a stronger, more compassionate community. We are thankful to Target for this generous donation.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Rector said it couldnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t have come at a better time.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œDemand has been up for the past four or five months,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe normally have about 700 to 800 individual cases a month, and that has shot up to nearly 1,300 a month, so this donation gives us massive help at the perfect time.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Demolition work behind Target continues. There is no timeline on when the work will be completed or when the store may reopen. Target officials did not immediately respond to messages seeking a comment.
Fred Pace is the business reporter for HD ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥. Follow him at and via Twitter @FredPaceHD.
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