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Starting this week and throughout the summer months, the Town of Magnolia in partnership with the Duplin County Schools Summer Food Program, will be providing free hot meals for children and youth up to 18 years of age.
Meals can be picked-up at 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Magnolia Town Hall located at 110 Carroll St. Every Thursday participants will be able to pick up frozen meals for the weekend.
“We’re asking people who want to participate to either call town hall at 910-289-3205 or they can just stop by to sign up,” said Magnolia Mayor Dawn Ward, adding that she does not believe there is a set limit of meals that can be provided.
“I don’t think there is a limit per se. It is more that we need to know how many meals to ask for in advance to ensure we can accommodate those who show up each day,” said Mayor Ward. “That is why it is really important people call or stop by town hall to sign up so we can provide an accurate count to Duplin County Schools for the numbers of meals we need.”
According to Mayor Ward, the idea came about as several people put their heads together to address food scarcity when school is out.
“It actually started with one particular young man and his courage. And I don’t want to go beyond that to protect his privacy, but he spoke with Jess Melton, who is a local resident and owner of Magnolia Dreams Inn here in town. And after he spoke with her, she reached out to me and it just kind of went from there,” Ward said.
She explained that while Duplin County Schools offer the food program, part of the issue was the kids in Magnolia being able to get to the food when school is out, and while plans are underway to turn the former library building into a food pantry, their immediate concern was finding a way to address the situation right away and bring food to the children.
“And so, you know, several passionate people put their heads together, did some research, made some phone calls, etc. And God just worked out the details better than we could have hoped,” said Ward. “The fact that we can actually get those meals delivered here to Magnolia, so that we can then in turn hand them out to hungry children is a huge blessing.”
Mayor Ward told Duplin Journal that they are also planning to have a blessing box stocked with non-perishable items set up in front of the former library building by the end of the week. She also shared that this was a notable example of what they had in mind when they rebranded Magnolia with their new town seal and the slogan: People, Passion, Purpose.
“Passionate people coming together for the purpose of ensuring our children in Magnolia, who need food this summer have access to it,” said Ward.
“Jesus came to serve and cause his followers to be servants. And the purpose of government is to serve the people. I feel humbled and privileged to be a part of what God is doing here in Magnolia, from the board to the staff, to the residents. We are coming together to make a difference, beginning with our children this summer. And it just warms the heart… I can’t think of a greater service that we can provide than making sure that kids have food.”
To sign up for the free meals at the Magnolia Town Hall, call 910-289-3205. For questions about the Duplin County Schools Nutrition Program call 910-296-8786.
