Ashdown volunteers feeding community, helping restaurants

ASHDOWN, Arkansas - The decision to buy tacos from a local Mexican Restaurant and serve them to the community has taken off and is now a community-wide effort to help people and local businesses.

"It was not anything we planned, but it's grown and raised thousands of dollars," said Ashdown Pastor Jim Cross.

Cross is a pastor at Ashdown United Methodist Church, Richmond United Methodist Church and Wade's Chapel United Methodist in Little River County.

Cross said the project stems from the week of spring break when some church members were collecting money to feed students who were home.

"We know a lot of the local businesses are struggling and wanted to help them too," Cross said.

Volunteers raised money and bought $700 worth of tacos from local Mexican Restaurant Papa Poblanos.

"It was a lot of tacos," Cross said. "We passed out about 500 tacos to anybody in the community who wanted a meal."

Everyone who wanted one, received a bag with two tacos, a bag of chips, cookies and bottle of water.

"We went through 250 bags in about 45 minutes," Cross said. "And as some people we're coming through, they were giving us money for more meals."

Cross said the effort has now grown to where half the funds are coming from outside the churches. "It's become something the entire county is involved in," Cross said.

Donations have ranged from just a few dollars from individuals to a $1,000 donation from Shelter Insurance.

Anyone who wants a meal is welcome to take one. Some people might be in need while others are working on the front lines of the Covid-19
crisis.

"We've had nurses come by after a long day of work. If it brings a smile to their faces, it's worth it," Cross said.

Since the first meal of tacos, the volunteers have also served meals from restaurants Jim's Place, Big Jake's BBQ And Dos Amigas. They have also served Whoppers and chicken nuggets from Burger King.

The next feeding event will be Monday. They will be passing out corn dogs from Jerry's Drive-In at 5 p.m. Monday at Ashdown United Methodist
Church.

On Thursday, they will be passing out hamburgers from The Wooden Spoon at 5 p.m. at the Fair Barn in Foreman,
Arkansas.

"We want to help Foreman out too and make this a county-wide thing," Cross said.

 

(Donations can be sent to 145 E. Commerce St. 71822, Ashdown, Arkansas.)

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