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In My Humble Opinion
Jodi McDade
Here we are in December! Can you believe how fast this year has flown by? I can remember when it seemed each year just lasted forever! But I now realize it is a matter of age and your outlook. I am looking forward to 2025, but there are still opportunities to close out this year by helping yourself while helping others.
This is the time of year to be looking toward filing your annual tax returns and considering charitable donations to offset some of your income. Maybe you can consider some local organizations this year rather than the larger national options.
We have several organizations right here in our area that could use your help. One of them that I’m involved with is Manna Ministries of RBC. We work with the Heart of Alabama Food Bank in Montgomery to help provide food assistance to people here in Coosa County. We have been able to bring in between 2,500 and 5,000 pounds of food each month to distribute to our neighbors who need a helping hand.
We do a food drop once a month – usually on the third Monday of the month. It is not a government program, but is sponsored within Rockford Baptist Church. The food drops have grown from about 30 families to more than 60 families (and growing) being served every month. We also provide food for emergency situations on a one-on-one basis by appointments. Our families range from single households up to families of seven, and we try to provide basic food needs based on their needs.
We do additional food drops occasionally if we get in unexpected amounts of food that come free from the food bank. We have also started having deliveries of groceries we pick up directly from a grocer and announce on Facebook to come pick up at the last minute – Monday and Wednesday mornings.
We also supply food for the monthly Community Dinner at Rockford Baptist Church, usually on the second Tuesday of each month, where we feed 60-120-plus people. Last month was the annual Thanksgiving dinner, and more than 250 people were fed.
Manna Ministries operates strictly on donations with no direct financial support from Rockford Baptist Church. We also have volunteers who help with every event, food delivery, stocking shelves, and other areas of the program. Through the food bank we are able to purchase food for 18 cents per pound and have access to other items at no charge.
We are seeing an increase each month in the number of people we serve and expect more this month because of the Alabama Food Stamp program being hacked and accounts wiped out. I have not heard any updates on this situation on how long it will take to reestablish accounts.
So, if you have any extra cash in your pockets or need a write-off on your taxes, please consider donating to Manna Ministries of RBC. You can look us up on Facebook, but include the RBC – there are other Manna Ministries in other areas of the country. The mailing address is 9575 U.S. Hwy. 231; Rockford, AL 35136; or for more information call 256-377-4900.
In addition to Manna Ministries there are several other organizations in our area who would appreciate your donations. Since we do not have our own animal shelter you might consider the one in Sylacauga or Wetumpka. There is also C.O.A.C.H. here in Coosa County that helps local cancer patients, the Central Baptist Association in Rockford that continues to aid victims of Hurricane Helene and your own church.
The Salvation Army, in my opinion, is also a worthy organization if you have clothes or household goods to donate. I’m sure there are other groups in our local area who could use support instead of the national charities who spend money on advertising and salaries.
Get out and see the Christmas lights in the county. Rockford is decorated except for one block along 231. The same block did not decorate last year, and it’s sad to see darkness within all the other bright lights, especially during Rockford’s Christmas parade. I haven’t been to Goodwater at night recently, but I hope they have also decorated as they used to. Many personal homes also have great light displays you can ride by, and some even have music included! Let’s get with the Christmas season and remember the reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ.
I am staying away from politics this week even though there are SO many things going on. The majority of Americans have spoken, and changes are coming. So have a peaceful week, and I’ll talk about other topics next week. God bless.