SUBMITTED

CORDELE — The Concerned Citizens That Care joined together with sponsors and volunteers to help provide food for needy families at Thanksgiving. Through the combined efforts of the organization, donors and volunteers the group was able to distribute 134 food boxes the day before Thanksgiving with enough food to last up to 3 days.
A non-profit organization, the Concerned Citizens That Care is a group of citizens from the community. The group began in 2002, with just a few members to help feed the needy in the area. Founded by Johnny and Barbara Dennis, the organization has continued to grow throughout the years. The organization feeds senior citizens, disabled persons, families referred by the Department of Family and Children Services, the Housing Authority Complex, Homebound Patients, The Crisp Development Disable Center, Healthy Families organization, West Central Georgia CAC Inc., members of the school system and other individuals throughout the community that know someone who is in need. The families are selected through one of the organizations mentioned.
The boxes consisted of: A whole turkey, fresh collard greens, rice, flour, corn muffin mix, paper towels, corn flakes, grits, macaroni and cheese, and drinks. There was also a variety of canned goods such as green beans, corn, soups, sweet peas, greens, tomatoes, carrots, and apple sauce as well as a number of other miscellaneous items.
The Concerned Citizens That Care said they give all thanks to God for Him allowing them to continue this important project each year.
“Without Him we would not be able to do what we do,” said Johnny Dennis. “To God be the glory.”
The group also would like to express their appreciation to WSST-TV and J.W. Williams Funeral Home for the publicity and their donations. They would also like to thank the Cordele Lions Club for their donations and use of their facilities for the distribution, Mr. Howard Jones for contributing 134 fresh bunches of collard greens, and the pastors and church families who came together and collected items in their churches and or gave monetary donations. They also want to thank local businesses for being drop off points for donations.
“We appreciate everyone who helped make this project a success,” said Dennis. “No matter how large or how small the donation was, we truly appreciate those who contributed to this worthy cause. Without the generosity of this community, none of this would have been possible.”
“We are so thankful to each and every one who donated to this worthy cause, whether you gave $1 or $100 or 1 canned good or 10 canned goods, we truly appreciate it,” said Barbara Dennis. “We were fortunate enough to provided 134 families with enough food to last up to 3 days. That’s 134 families, not persons. This adds up to approximately 400 meals a day for at leas 3 days, totaling around 1,206 meals. There are many families right here in Cordele that are in need and we plan to continue to feed families as long as God gives us the strength to do so.”
The Concerned Citizens That Care also purchases toys or gives a monetary donation to the “Adopt an Angel” program for Christmas. The group says their motto is and always will be “God blesses us so that we can bless others and it is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Johnny Dennis is President of this organization and Barbara Dennis is Vice President.