West Central Reporter

The Genesis Garden Organization received a $16,000 donation from the Fellheimer Trust of Wesley United Methodist Church to help support weekly food distributions to every McDonough County household that qualifies. 

John Curtis, the executive director of Genesis Garden, says the donation is a huge boost in the organization's efforts to deliver food to families in need.

“This donation is a huge boost to our efforts to support our friends and neighbors who are struggling to pay basic bills and keep food on the table,” Curtis told the McDonough County Voice.

Curtis also said the donation will enabled the organization to purchase enough to support operations as food prices rise.

“Purchases of dried and canned goods and frozen meat can cost us more than $1,000 a week depending on what else has been donated and how many families sign up for deliveries that week,” Curtis says.

Curtis said his organization serves the area's "most vulnerable people." He adds that by delivering these goods, the community is safer during the COVID-19 crisis.

“(We) want to be sure that we, ourselves, don’t become a source of the virus to the households we serve,” Curtis said. "That’s why we’ve coordinated with Loaves and Fishes and Demand Response. We feel like if we can safely deliver supplemental food to people who need it most, we can also help keep the community safer. We really appreciate local partners like Fellheimer Trust stepping up, supporting our work and joining the growing partnership formed with local organizations to help make this happen."