How Henderson County Turns Mail Routes Into Food Relief

One day. Every mailbox. Tens of thousands of pounds of food headed straight to local pantry shelves. We sit down with Lynn Staggs from The Storehouse, Emily Sherlin from the Salvation Army, Anthony Acosta from Interfaith Assistance Ministry, and Arcavia from the Postal Service to explain how the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive works in Henderson County and why it matters more than ever right now.

We get specific about the “how” so you can confidently participate: what to leave out (canned goods and other non-perishable foods), what to skip (no glass, nothing expired, nothing perishable), and why items like peanut butter, rice, pasta, and kid-friendly snacks become lifelines when school lets out. Arcadia shares the scope of the National Association of Letter Carriers drive and why reaching every address makes this the largest one-day food drive in the country.

Then we zoom in on the “why.” Rising grocery prices, fuel costs, housing pressure, and ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery are pushing more neighbors to seek emergency food assistance, including seniors on fixed incomes and larger families. We also walk through the behind-the-scenes operation: carriers collecting donations, volunteers unloading trucks mid-route, totes and pallets at the annex, and days of sorting and date-checking before food goes back out to the community.

If you care about hunger relief in Hendersonville and across Western North Carolina, this conversation gives you a clear way to help on May 9 and a better understanding of what local food pantries face every week. Subscribe for more local community stories, share this with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors find the show.

Transcript

Welcome And Local Community Focus

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Thank you so much for being here. This is the George Real Estate Group community, which is a production of our live weekly radio shows in multiple radio stations here in Hendersonville, North Carolina. And it is a privilege to hear positive news about our local real estate market and community. Thanks so much for subscribing. And of course, if you have any real estate questions or if we can help you in any way, be sure to reach out. Visit us at George Real Estate Group Radio.com for more information.

SPEAKER_06 0:39

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the George Real Estate Group, uh hometown radio show. Noah is uh on assignment, we'll say, this morning. And uh we have a whole room full of people it takes to fill one guy's shoes like Noah. Lynn Stags from the storehouse. How are you?

SPEAKER_04 1:02

I am good. How are you today?

SPEAKER_06 1:04

I'm doing great. You you said you were uh ready to go, bright-eyed and bushy tailed this morning.

Why The Food Drive Matters

SPEAKER_04 1:10

That is the only way to be.

SPEAKER_06 1:11

Well, we were left instructions to talk about uh the annual uh stamp out the hunger food drive by the post office. And that's what we're going to be kind of dwelling on today. You've uh been around this line for many years, haven't you?

SPEAKER_04 1:30

Yeah, we are in our 26th year of operation and probably our 15th year with the post office.

SPEAKER_06 1:38

Really, really. So the post office brings in a lot of food for the storehouse on this day, right?

SPEAKER_04 1:45

They bring in a lot of food for the county on this day.

SPEAKER_06 1:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:49

This we share it, we're there's agencies, we spread it out, and it takes all of us to make this happen. No one pantry can provide everything.

SPEAKER_06 2:00

Yeah. Uh Emily, pull that mic around there to you and uh and introduce yourself. Emily Sherlin with Salvation Army.

SPEAKER_01 2:08

Yes, my name is Emily Sherlin. I am the social service director for Henderson and Polk County with the Salvation Army, and we are very blessed to be in a position to receive food through the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. And this is also um I I'm not sure how many years the Salvation Army has been participating in this, but I can tell you nationally that's been over 30 years that we've been participating in this. Here in the county, I'm gonna say it's been an easy 20. Um every year we are very we're overwhelmed by the amount of generosity uh from our community members and what they give us and the amazing condition that the food items are in and how much that really contributes to the food that is going right back out the door to our neighbors in Henderson County. Uh, all of our food here that is received in Henderson County stays in Henderson County and goes directly to those in need. You know, of course, we've got a lot of mitigating factors right now as to why people need emergency food assistance.

SPEAKER_05 3:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:14

Um, you know, in regards to higher gas prices, food prices are in an increase, housing is at a premium. Um, and of course, um, oh, there's a lot of folks that haven't recovered from Hurricane Aline as well.

SPEAKER_05 3:27

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 3:28

So uh we are still seeing those individuals, we're seeing larger and larger families. Uh we have several families that come in that are families of 14, families of 16, families of 10. Um, so we're seeing a lot of big families come through, and just we're really just amazingly blessed to be in the position to help.

SPEAKER_06 3:49

And this is a big part of that. Huge, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:51

The food that we receive through uh the NALC food drive is really an easy, I'd say third of what we need. Are you serious? Yes. Um and so that usually lasts us, I would say, three to four months, depending upon volume. And so every can of soup, green beans, everything that is received from rice to pasta mixes, yeah, goes right back into our pantry. And we are blessed to have not only the partnerships with the storehouse and interfaith, because Lynn's right, you know, we cannot do this alone. And this is a team effort for emergency food assistance here in Henderson County. And uh, to my knowledge, there are currently 23 food pantries in the county. Uh, we are just three. So there's a lot of people out there multiply this story 20 times.

SPEAKER_06 4:41

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

There are a lot of people that just have the heart to serve, and that they are, you know, wake up every day and they say, you know, I'm gonna go and I'm gonna help the people that live right next door to me. Yeah, because that's what it is. It's your neighbors, it's your people that you work with, it's everybody that you can.

SPEAKER_06 4:58

People you go to school with, except yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

All the children, seen a lot of single mothers, um, a lot of people just very much struggling right now. So we're very, very thankful to be a part of this. And it really is a lot of fun as well.

SPEAKER_05 5:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:13

Um, you know, to be at the Postal Index and to see how the food drive works.

SPEAKER_06 5:17

Wow, and you know, to big operation.

SPEAKER_01 5:19

It is a very large operation.

SPEAKER_06 5:20

Arcady is gonna join us uh from the Postal Service. She is on her way, Arcady. She'll be here, yeah. And she'll give us more details on the I think it's the second Saturday in May.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

It is May 9th.

SPEAKER_06 5:32

Well, May 9th, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:33

And that's where people are gonna find that that yellow bag in their uh post office or their box, their mailbox. And all they need to do is put those shelf stable goods in that bag, tie it up, put it on their post off their box, or if it's too much or it's too heavy, they can lay those items on the ground. The post office will come by, and the carriers in the city and in the county will come by and pick up those bags and they put them in their mail trucks, and then they come back to the annex to deliver those goods. We also, as these three agencies, have people that go out into the community and meet the postal carriers, let's say at Ingalls or Publix or Fresh Market and help them unload those trucks and then bring that food back to the Annex. Um I'm one of the people that does that, and I very much just really enjoy, you know, seeing them and being able to help them because it's it's a lot extra on them in a day. If you think about how much food that we get, it could be 35, 40, 45,000 pounds worth of food. Wow.

SPEAKER_04 6:38

And so meeting them on their route saves them time. They don't have to come all the way back out to the post office and go back to their route.

How Collection Day Works

SPEAKER_06 6:47

Yeah, when they get a full load. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Well, uh again, Lynn Staggs from the uh storehouse and Emily Sherlin from the Salvation Army, and now Anthony Acosta from Interfaith Assistance Ministry. Good morning, Anthony.

unknown 7:01

Good morning.

SPEAKER_06 7:01

How are you? I'm doing well, yes, sir. It's good to see you here and good to have you with us. I know you are here just to probably echo these sentiments that uh already been talked about uh for Interfaith.

SPEAKER_08 7:13

Yes, sir. Yes, I am. And again, my my name is Anthony Acosta. I work at Interfaith Assistance Ministry. Uh I am the Food Services Manager, I handle everything food that comes out of our agency. Um honestly it's an honor to be here with Lynn and Emily. Um I've only worked the um the event for two years now, but last year it was such such good fun. Um it can be chaotic because of the magnitude of what this brings for our community.

SPEAKER_06 7:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 7:43

Um to to give you an idea, for every nine people that you pass by today, one of them is serviced by IM. Um and and that's just us, you know.

SPEAKER_06 7:53

So you can imagine as we said, twenty times that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 7:56

Yeah. So Lynn um here and Emily, the what they do through their organizations just only adds to that. Um the amount of help that is needed out there currently, especially like Emily said, after Hurricane Helene is it's pretty pretty vast.

unknown 8:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 8:12

Yeah, and you guys have uh have seen the best and the worst of our times. Uh Hurricane Helene keeps being brought up. Uh you guys are still helping people to recover from Hurricane Helene, I know. Oh, yes, definitely. Yes, sir. Yeah. Well, Arcadia.

SPEAKER_03 8:30

Arcadia.

SPEAKER_06 8:31

Arcadia. Boom. Roll that mic around over to Arcadia, and we'll talk about uh what we've been talking about. How are you?

SPEAKER_03 8:38

I'm doing well. How are you this morning?

SPEAKER_06 8:40

I'm doing great. It's good to see you. We always see you about this time of the year. Yes, sir. It's uh it's good we made it another year.

SPEAKER_03 8:46

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 8:47

And let's talk about the uh Stamp Out the Hunger Food Drive uh uh that you guys pull off. These agencies have been just to catch you up. They've been all sitting here talking about how important this is for uh hunger, stamping out hunger in our county. And so it's a big event coming up on May 9th, right?

SPEAKER_03 9:07

Yes, uh the largest one-day food drive in the country that uh NALC National Association of Letter Carriers put on. Uh postal workers go to every address in the country.

SPEAKER_06 9:22

Every address in the country. Wait, catch on there.

SPEAKER_03 9:26

So, hey, we can reach everybody, and you can help everybody with just a small donation.

SPEAKER_06 9:34

So that day is uh, I'm sure, uh a very busy day at the post office. I mean, nobody takes a vacation or a day off. Anyone call in sick on that day?

SPEAKER_03 9:44

I don't take vacation or take a day off. I'm there.

SPEAKER_06 9:48

But that's a big day.

SPEAKER_03 9:49

Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_06 9:50

You guys uh at the you you look forward to it. How long have you personally been involved with the food drive?

SPEAKER_03 9:56

Uh I started with the post office in 2012. So my first two few years I did the uh food drive in Bouvard, that's where I started at. Yeah. I've been here since 2015 doing the food drive.

SPEAKER_06 10:11

Wow. So it's 11 years now.

SPEAKER_03 10:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 10:14

How much food is collected for Henderson County during that date, the the weight and the poundage? I can't remember, it's as big.

SPEAKER_02 10:23

Oh, uh last year it was about 38? 38,000 pounds.

SPEAKER_06 10:29

Yes. What kinds of food uh should people put out uh at the mailbox?

SPEAKER_03 10:36

Canned goods, non-perishable items, no glass, please no glass. That's very difficult to deal with glass when you start dealing with large cans and uh stuff. Um nothing that, you know, like say parishes, no, you know, refrigerated products, no you know outdated, no outdated, yes, no the outdated items. Um, you know, dried goods, rices, pastas, um peanut butter. Peanut butter, yeah. Peanut butter. I heard that. Yeah, so it's coming up on summertime. The kids are gonna be home, you know. Think about, you know, snacks, granola bars, things of that nature.

SPEAKER_05 11:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:21

Jelly is one of the most expensive things we have to put on the shelf.

SPEAKER_05 11:25

Really?

SPEAKER_04 11:25

Yes. Yes. Per per jar, jelly is one of the most expensive things.

SPEAKER_06 11:31

And if you got peanut butter, you gotta have jelly.

SPEAKER_04 11:33

Or something's wrong with you. Or something's wrong.

SPEAKER_06 11:36

Or you need help. Uh so uh Lynn, I know that at the storehouse on that day you pull in extra people to help, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_04 11:49

We don't have to because we have Big Sam and we love Sam. And then we have Super Linda. So those are the two workingest people I've ever met in my life. Wow. And we can't do it without them. But we come in early, make sure everybody gets a lunch that day, and then after they're set out, Sam and Linda come in and set up pallets, set the trucks up and put everything where it goes, and then everybody takes their trucks back and empties them and brings them back. We usually have to empty them two or three times.

SPEAKER_06 12:24

So logistically, how how does this work? The carriers are out in their little vehicles and they get a load of food, and some volunteer meets them on their route and empties their truck for them.

SPEAKER_03 12:37

Yes, a lot of times we do have to have to be midday and have our trucks empty because we collect so much food.

SPEAKER_06 12:43

Isn't that a great problem to have?

SPEAKER_03 12:45

That's a wonderful problem to have.

SPEAKER_06 12:46

Yeah. And then uh all of that food is brought back to the Postal Linux. At the mall?

SPEAKER_03 12:54

No, uh behind Sam's Club.

SPEAKER_06 12:56

Oh, the okay, gotcha. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 12:58

Uh, and it's just an assembly line of workers once we get back. We have so many wonderful volunteers that come and they unload our vehicles for us. You know, they say, okay, you put it in there, we're gonna get it out for you. Yeah, and it's just like an assembly line. They get us rolling.

SPEAKER_04 13:16

United Way sends us a big, huge bunch of volunteers. Really?

SPEAKER_05 13:19

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 13:20

It's it lines up with their uh their national day of carrying that weekend. Yeah, they're Friday and Saturday. So we do end up with a lot of you know volunteers from the United Way. We're thankful for them with a lot of the uh organizing that they put together.

SPEAKER_06 13:36

So uh those volunteers will bring all the food back there to the annex and and they start making piles. This one goes to interface systems as salvation army. This one goes. No, tell me how that works.

SPEAKER_04 13:47

We have totes. So we just fill up a tote and everybody gets a tote.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

So totes are very much like the big watermelon boxes, the bog big boxes that carry cantaloupes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 13:59

That size.

SPEAKER_01 14:00

That's a tote. That's a size.

SPEAKER_04 14:01

Yeah, that's a tote. That is a tote. And so we uh we have a truck that holds six and one that holds eight, and then you think ours hold ten. Yeah, her truck holds ten. I don't know how you've got a six twenty six foot. Yeah, he's got he's got one that holds eight or ten. So we just everybody gets one. It's one one for you and one for you, and one for you.

SPEAKER_06 14:23

And then we were and then we all and it starts over again. That's right. Okay, you get number two, three, yeah, yeah. Well, that's fantastic. And then you all take that food back to your place and start stocking your pantries.

SPEAKER_04 14:36

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 14:36

Or do you even does it even stop at your place? Does it go straight out to someone?

Postal Service Details And What To Donate

SPEAKER_04 14:41

Well, it has to be sorted. We have to check dates. I mean, there's there's rules, and um we have our new place, so now we've got plenty of room. Um, we have moved to 2313 Spartanburg Highway. We're right next to East Flat Rock First Baptist Church.

SPEAKER_06 14:58

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 14:59

And so now we have room to move around and sort. And Emily's always had a gym, and I've been jealous of her jam a little bit. But I have a warehouse now.

SPEAKER_01 15:11

Yes. It usually takes us about three days to sort that food. At least. So we sort the food uh by expiration date and type. So it'll go, it gets packed into boxes. So here's a box of peanut butter, here's a box of jelly, here's the macaroni and cheese, here's the rice, here's the instant potatoes, here's pasta mixes, here's macaroni and cheese. And then what we do is we go through and label each box and then store and stack. We should we we definitely fill the shelves immediately, and then beyond that, everything is stored, and I can tell you it goes a lot faster than you think. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 15:45

Yeah, and we do it's the same process, I think. It's this is not rocket science, yeah. It's sorting and stacking.

SPEAKER_06 15:53

Well, it it's so much of it. I I'm sure you have to have some sort of a system to manage it.

SPEAKER_04 15:59

We have a tiny Linda, she stays in the warehouse, I leave her alone, she scares me a little bit, you know. Her job, and she does not want anybody to bother her, and so I just leave her alone.

SPEAKER_01 16:10

We have volunteers that come in and help us sort that food. So there are homeschool groups, there are groups from Henderson County Schools, there are church groups, all kinds of different people that come in and help.

SPEAKER_06 16:21

Anthony, is it uh much the same story at your place uh when they bring in truckloads of food for you?

SPEAKER_08 16:28

Yeah, minus the gym, I would say. Yeah, I'd have to go check that out. But it it is it is pretty much the same. Um uh I remember last year Sam and I were just in the back area of the annex um using pallet jacks just to load up our trucks, uh make sure everything was dispersed um equally. Yeah, and then uh it was our jobs to then haul it back to our locations, in which case, I mean Salvation Army has a small entryway, I can I can imagine, so that can be difficult. Lynn, now you have a warehouse.

SPEAKER_01 17:03

We go through the gym doors.

SPEAKER_08 17:04

Yeah, um as can they sure do. We we also have a uh double door way that kind of makes things easier, yeah. Um but then after that, honestly, we couldn't do this without volunteers.

SPEAKER_05 17:16

Yes.

SPEAKER_08 17:16

Um a big part of what I do as as the manager there for food services is um not just manage food but try to manage the capacity that we have.

SPEAKER_06 17:27

Right.

SPEAKER_08 17:27

Um and and the volunteers, the graciousness of our community is a is a big part of that.

SPEAKER_06 17:31

We live in a great place.

SPEAKER_08 17:33

We do.

SPEAKER_06 17:33

We do um hasn't uh Henderson County uh received the awards in the past for the amounts and the longevity of your of your involvement?

SPEAKER_03 17:46

Our branch itself, which covers basically one-third of Western the one-third of the state. So we have Western North Carolina. Okay. We have received national recognition for the amounts of food that we have collected throughout the years. We do have a kind of friendly rivalry with Asheville. Okay, so yeah.

SPEAKER_06 18:07

And in years past, you beat them.

SPEAKER_03 18:09

Oh, we've beat them, yeah. We have beat them multiple years. That's amazing. Last year, too, didn't we? Yes, we beat.

SPEAKER_06 18:15

See, that just speaks to the place we live in.

SPEAKER_04 18:18

We're gonna do it again this year. We sure are.

SPEAKER_06 18:21

May 9th. May 9th. Put your uh non-perishable food items out at the mailbox wherever that is, if that's in an apartment complex at the mailbox, or if you're uh rural route, put it out at the mailbox, hang it out there on the mailbox.

SPEAKER_03 18:39

Correct.

SPEAKER_06 18:41

Well, uh who are some of the other agencies that I mean, we got three of the uh of them, but they're like you said, are twenty more around here. Who are some of the other people that receive are there to pick up that food on that day?

SPEAKER_03 18:57

In Henderson County, it's just these three.

SPEAKER_06 18:59

Oh, it's just these three. Okay, great, great, great. Well, that's plenty. I mean, that's uh, and as you said, it doesn't last long, does it?

SPEAKER_01 19:07

Correct. No, it doesn't, but that's if you're getting rid of it, then you're doing your job.

SPEAKER_06 19:11

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 19:12

Yeah, yes.

Sorting Systems And Volunteer Power

SPEAKER_06 19:13

And so you you all three of your agencies are uh seeing an increased amount of people who are food insecure?

SPEAKER_04 19:21

Yes, sir. Yes, especially our seniors, because now they're getting our our senior delivery routes are growing because our seniors are aging and they can't drive, they can't get out, and food is so much more expensive. Their little tiny social security checks just does not go as far as it used to. And a lot of them don't get any more than ten to twenty dollars in food stamps a month. And that is nothing. That's sad.

SPEAKER_06 19:52

That is sad.

SPEAKER_04 19:53

That really is just sad.

SPEAKER_06 19:55

I hate that we're in this place. Their utility bills are going up. Everything their gasoline, if they travel, rent. Yes, yes, and then food costs. And food gets bumped down to the bottom, you know.

SPEAKER_01 20:09

Well, you've got people making choices in between medication and breakfast.

SPEAKER_05 20:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

Am I gonna pay my utility bill or am I gonna go to the grocery store?

SPEAKER_05 20:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:18

Can I take my pills or do I need to stretch that 30-day prescription to 90 days? This is what we're seeing.

SPEAKER_06 20:25

Yes. In increasing numbers.

SPEAKER_01 20:27

With much, especially with our senior population. Of course. You know, so they are definitely um greatly impacted by this food drive and how the community answers to the call.

SPEAKER_06 20:42

Anthony, if uh someone wants to volunteer at uh interfaith assistance ministry, I know you guys welcome any help you can get.

SPEAKER_08 20:50

Oh, definitely. Um we have a wonderful volunteer um coordinator. Her name is Marcia Crabtree. Um she handles about 260 volunteers of ours.

SPEAKER_06 21:00

260 volunteers.

SPEAKER_08 21:02

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. It's it's a big operation. We um just like you know the other organizations, there's there's many facets to what we do.

SPEAKER_05 21:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 21:10

Um we provide financial assistance, we provide clothing, um, and we provide food. Uh those those are three necessities. Um you know, really, if someone doesn't have, how can you think about other things that muscle matter?

SPEAKER_06 21:25

Yeah, yeah. And I'm sure you all three are uh strong referral agencies when someone shows up in need of food, they're likely in need of other things.

SPEAKER_01 21:36

Yes, yes, we're constantly referring to each other. Referring to each other.

SPEAKER_06 21:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:40

Because there are certain things that Lynn does, there's certain things that Lynn does, and there's certain things at the storehouse, and there's certain things that Inner Faith does, certain things that the Salvation Army does. Um so we're constantly saying, Hey, go over to Interfaith, you can get some clothes. Or we know that Lynn then carries the hygiene products. You know, so go to the storehouse. That's perfect, you know. Definitely, you know, like I always say, this is a team effort.

SPEAKER_04 22:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:03

We all work together.

SPEAKER_04 22:04

It's not a competition. We're not in competition.

SPEAKER_01 22:07

We're not on a out on an island. We all are doing the same work. So we have to be supportive of each other.

SPEAKER_06 22:13

Emily, uh, if you guys at Salvation Army, just like uh IAM, I'm sure you could use any help. Of course. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:22

Yes, get us in touch with your they would get in touch with me directly. I'm the volunteer coordinator. Okay. Okay. So uh they're more than welcome to give us a call, 828-693-4181, and ask for Emily. Yeah. And we would be happy to meet with them about what they would like to do in regress to volunteering.

SPEAKER_06 22:38

I guess uh you got many different uh positions a volunteer could fill. You don't it not physically unload, you know, an old guy like me wouldn't be really uh into unloading a truck. But uh, you know, I could help with uh this paperwork or whatever.

SPEAKER_01 22:54

There's all kinds of things that can be done, and you know, just like our the people that we serve in our programs, we also you know meet them where they're at, and we also meet our volunteers where they're at because everybody has a different functionality level. Right. And so you don't want to overwhelm someone, you want to encourage and support.

SPEAKER_04 23:12

And you need to find out what their skill set is so they can work in their sweet spot.

SPEAKER_06 23:18

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh be productive and uh have a passion for what you do. I know we're speaking to a lot of people who are retired who maybe just retired and maybe uh are looking for some way to connect in the community and some way to help. I'm sure there's lasting friendships that develop amongst these volunteers, lifetime friendships, and there are. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 23:40

We get cracked up because sometimes the days don't know the other days. And so, like the Wednesday people are all we'll have events where we have all three days and they're like so we started tagging them with their days. Tuesday people.

SPEAKER_07 23:56

You're Tuesday people, you're Wednesday people, yeah. But for me, it makes it makes it so much more fun, you know. Like every day is so different. It is, it is, it's it's never the same.

SPEAKER_04 24:06

It's never the same. And there's you know, as long as I hear them laughing, I was gonna ask about laughing.

SPEAKER_06 24:12

Yeah, do you hear a lot of laughter amongst the volunteers? Absolutely, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 24:18

They're happy folks, yes.

SPEAKER_06 24:19

Happy folks, so good. It's so good to hear.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

Yeah, we have some wonderful volunteers, and you know, we could not do it without them.

SPEAKER_06 24:25

Of course not. Of course not. What uh what are you guys all planning and looking ahead to like next year? Or are you or are you just like, let's get through the day?

SPEAKER_01 24:40

We're we're gonna get through the food drive and then we're gonna go from there. Um I can't tell you this Salvation Army, we have our summer daycamp starting in June. Okay. Um so we are currently in the process of taking applications for the summer day camp uh that serves children from 5 to 12. And you would also need to call the Salvation Army if you're interested about that program that runs for 10 hours a day for 10 weeks in our building for the children of Henderson County.

SPEAKER_06 25:07

I bet that's a lot of fun too.

Rising Need Seniors And Next Steps

SPEAKER_01 25:09

It is, yeah, it's a lot of fun. Uh so we've got that coming up. Um, we've got, of course, um all kinds of different events. We also have a location down in Polk County. We have our location in Transylvania County. Uh so we are always um just taking that step next to the big program, next to that next big thing. Yeah. Um in June, we will be doing our Kicks for Kids program, which provides a brand new pair of sneakers to children to return to school. Oh, yeah. So we take applications in June and July for that and then distribute in August. Um so really helping those kids get, you know, into a new pair of shoes to go back to school in. I do remember how important that was. Exactly. And um, you know, how little kids definitely want, you know, those nice Converse or Nikes or Vans or whatever.

SPEAKER_06 25:57

And usually a new book bag.

SPEAKER_01 25:59

Yes, new book bag, yeah, pencils, paper, that kind of thing.

SPEAKER_06 26:03

Yeah, and then before you know it, you'll be ringing the bells of Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

Correct. And then we start playing Christmas in August. Um then we start late bloomers. Then we start planning Christmas. We start playing Christmas in January.

SPEAKER_04 26:16

We start playing Christmas at the Christmas we're at.

SPEAKER_01 26:19

We do, and then start actively pursuing that in August.

SPEAKER_06 26:23

Anthony, you are you uh your organization is the same way. I know uh interfaith assistance ministry, you're making plans for the future too. You guys are always looking, you're on the forefront of helping people and and of all faiths. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_08 26:36

Yes, sir, and we recently trend are kind of you know in the midst of transitioning into new leadership. Um, our new executive director, uh Matt Hatchison, he's been there now since January. Um so we're looking to make some changes to our pantry layout. Uh we're trying to always improve the way we service and really making uh environment that is equitable and um really responsible towards the person that's coming for food or any type of service that they need. Okay. Um I know um right now something that's currently happening, we also have a thrift store. Um if anyone is interested in getting 50% off at the thrift store, any white tagged item is 50% off.

SPEAKER_06 27:22

Hey!

SPEAKER_08 27:22

Fantastic.

SPEAKER_06 27:24

Where's it at?

SPEAKER_08 27:25

Um that is actually right next to our main building. Okay. Um, and it's it's it's a great, great setup, um, great items all the time. Uh Kathy Yaw, who manages it and uh is a director, um, she uh does a fantastic job. She also has a group of volunteers that helps her manage that store. Uh, and all proceeds just maintain are maintained internally. So it it helps us continue with any other sort of help that we may want to give back.

SPEAKER_06 27:54

Yeah, like we said, it there's others that you can refer to. Well, fantastic. Tell us uh pull that mic around and tell us one more time. We want to remind everybody this is coming up on May 9th. That's we sound like you know, that's just a couple of weeks.

SPEAKER_03 28:08

Yeah, next weekend. It best way to remember it is the Saturday prior to Mother's Day. It's that Mother's Day weekend. So make that be a gift in honor of your mother living or not. That's great. Donate.

SPEAKER_06 28:24

She would appreciate it. She would appreciate that, Daphne.

SPEAKER_03 28:28

We the post office, each individual post office decides which organizations receive the donations. I will say that the three organizations that are represented here today are great stewards of what is given to them, and that's why we continue to give to them every year.

SPEAKER_06 28:43

Love it, love it, love it. Thank you all so much. It's been a pleasure, and uh Godspeed to all of. Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 28:52

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 29:08

The stairs a little steeper. The pace of life a little too fast. But what if your next move wasn't about letting go? It was about making space for peace, for freedom, for what matters most. At the George Real Estate Group, we understand that real estate isn't just about the house. It's about transitions, timing, and trust. We've helped thousands of families in Western North Carolina make smart, thoughtful moves closer to nature, closer to family, closer to home. So when you're ready to right-size, simplify, or start fresh, we'll be here. The George Real Estate Group. Local, trusted, proven. Call us today, 828-393-0134. Find us online at realestatebygreg.com because your next chapter deserves to feel just right.

SPEAKER_06 30:05

Thank you for listening to the George Real Estate Group Podcast. Tune in next time for more industry news, updates, and real estate news. You can reach Greg, the George Real Estate Group, at 828-393-0134 or at real estate.