Protest group funds local hunger relief
Hands off Haywood organizer Mary Ford (right) presents a check to Blake Hart of Haywood Christian Ministry.
Cory Vaillancourt photo
A weekend rally organized by Hands off Haywood commenced with the presentation of a $2,500 check to Haywood Christian Ministries in Waynesville, highlighting a direct link between protest activism and local hunger relief.
Hands off Haywood organizer Mary Ford told the crowd that demonstrators have faced insults and “more middle fingers since March than we have in our entire lives” while taking to the streets on a weekly basis earlier this year but said the group’s focus has remained on democracy and community support.
Ford described how the group began collecting donations after federal decisions in late October threatened SNAP benefits, straining local food resources.
“We’re out here standing in solidarity for democracy, but we’re also out here standing for our community and helping our community,” Ford said.
With that, Ford presented a for $2,500 to Haywood Christian Ministry, which will help the organization carry out its Christ-centered mission “to help everyone achieve economic stability by promoting food security, growing financial capacity, and building resilient communities.”
Blake Hart, speaking on behalf of Haywood Christian Ministry, said the organization saw a sharp increase in demand when SNAP benefits were suspended earlier this year, with weekly pantry visits jumping from about 600 to as many as 1,000.
“It’s support like this that has made it possible to continue on, to continue giving food to our neighbors,” Hart said. “One of the biggest things that we can do at times like this, when all seems bleak, is to come together, to unite and to work together in a mutual sense for all of our neighbors.”
