Wlaf1450TOP PHOTO: Dust of Hope delivered 45 boxes and bags of Thanksgiving food items on Tuesday.
By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Dust of Hope Mission made Thanksgiving special for 45 families this season, delivering boxes full of food on Tuesday.
“We want to be there for the community when they need us,” said Kim Derry Leonard, organizer of Dust of Hope.
The Mission started about a year and a half ago as an outreach program to help others in the community with food needs, clothing and more. Funds are raised through donations, as well as through the Mission’s thrift store that sells all kinds of items that get donated. Now a religious non-profit, the organization serves East Tennessee, but is located in Campbell County and does most of its work here, according to Leonard. It even has a program where girls can check out prom dresses for school dances and events. The dresses are then returned for the next girl to check out.
Dust of Hope is ran entirely on a volunteer basis.
“We just want to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We all know what it’s like to struggle and we want to be able to fill in the gaps for people and help where it’s needed,” Leonard said.
She also said these food donations wouldn’t be possible without the kindness and “giving hearts” of the community, and she wanted to say a “big thank you” County Commissioner Scott Kitts, as well as Confidence Construction, Food Lion, Food City and Save-a-Lot, and others for making donations.
Kitts, who donated $300 to go towards food purchases said it was just something he “was led to do to help the community.” “I was delighted to do it. There are a lot of people who can’t afford a Thanksgiving meal and they don’t have family to help them. We got to take care of the people in our county,” Kitts said.
Dust of Hope is always accepting donations of all types, from clothing, to house hold items, food and monetary. Donation items are sold in the thrift store to fund food purchases.
Dust of Hope is located at 403 W. Central Avenue next to Dominos. Donations can be dropped off at the location or call Leonard at 865.399.1796. Check them out on Facebook as well. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/24/2021-6AM)
Scott you are the man! You have such a kind heart! Thank you Dust of Hope for this much needed program!