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As part of a circulation special for the month of November, The Greenville Advocate offered a discounted subscription rate in exchange for canned goods and other non-perishable food items.

Throughout the month, the stack of food grew and subscriptions multiplied as dozens of readers took advantage of the special with canned goods in hand.

With hopes of replenishing a food pantry in the area after the Thanksgiving holiday, all donations were given to the St. Thomas Episcopal Church food pantry. An estimated total of 250 pounds of food was donated on behalf of the subscribers and staff.

Tom Braxton, director of the food pantry, was appreciative of the large donation.

“The donation of food from The Greenville Advocate to the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Food pantry will help feed up to 100 families,” he said. “What a blessing this is to all the ones who received from the loving hearts of others.”

Wishing to extend a helping hand this Christmas season GNL Publisher Adam Prestridge was pleased with the outcome of the food drive.

“So many people are in need, and during the holidays that need increases,” he said. “Food pantries all over the county as well as the nation are depleted of much-needed non-perishable food during the Thanksgiving holidays, so it becomes a struggle for food pantries to provide for those in need during Christmas, the time of giving. The staff and I wanted to offer a helping hand and our subscribers supported our cause.”

In addition to a discounted subscription rate in return for food, subscribers also received a $10 voucher to Piggly Wiggly to go toward the purchase of a Thanksgiving turkey.

“Piggly Wiggly was a great partner in this promotion,” Prestridge said. “The manager, Dale Brown, and his staff were very easy to work with and were more than willing to assist us and our subscribers.”

Along with the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, other food pantries in the area are accepting donations. The Joseph Ministry, a countywide food pantry, supplies food to many different individuals every month. Working in conjunction with the Montgomery Food Bank, the ministry continues to fight hunger in the area.

Donations for the Joseph Ministry are accepted at the United Methodist Church in Greenville. Boxes for individuals are then assembled and given to residents the Sat. following the third Thursday every month. This church also stocks a food pantry for people in emergency situations.