WEAP reaches out to families

Group rounds up food for needy

Most food drives focus on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. But this year, Easter got its own food drive, courtesy of the Weekend Emergency Assistance Program.

True to its name, WEAP is known for handing out food to needy families.

Besides the main course, WEAP provided the side dishes and everything for full Easter meals.

The food drive was the brainchild of Jerry Connors, a volunteer for the group. He rounded up 360 hams and 44 turkeys. Of those, 120 hams and 44 turkeys went to WEAP recipients. There were many extras, so it was decided to hand them out to Nellis families with loved ones deployed to the Middle East.

"Jerry is great," said Bonnie Karch, coordinator. "He just asks me what I need and then he goes out and gets it."

Connors was a bit more stoic about his involvement. He said it's often easier to solicit food to feed people than it is to ask individuals to buy toys to donate.

"Besides, you can't eat a doll," Connors said. " I'd rather have a kid with no toy and a full belly."

Some of the frozen meats were donated by Smith's supermarkets, and money to buy more was provided by Connors' employer, Bechtel, and his co-workers. Funds from First Christian Church were also used to buy items.

WEAP is affiliated with the United Methodist Social Ministries. The group regularly provides qualifying families with a three-day supply of food. It also distributes infant care items if needed and personal-care sundries like hand soap and toothpaste.

Families are usually referred to WEAP by local social agencies. They come to the offices at 1551 S. Commerce St. to receive food and items. Every weekend, about 10 volunteers are there to give out items.

Sometimes WEAP has clothes to hand out. Volunteers also collect infant clothes, given to struggling mothers when they bring newborns home. And then there are groups like Hyde Park Middle School's quilting club, which makes and donates quilts.

Karch had many experiences dealing with people in need, but one that stood out in her mind involved a lonely woman. A number of teddy bears had been donated to WEAP and Karch was passing them out to children. An elderly woman approached and asked if she could have one, too.

"I told her they were for the kids and she said, 'My daughter just died and she always liked them,' " Karch said, adding that her heart went out to the woman. "How could I not give her a bear?"

The group also makes up Christmas baskets. Two years ago, it began handing out Fourth of July baskets, everything from hot dogs to potato chips. Because it's a festive summer holiday, WEAP also arranged for a little something for children, things like squirt guns, bubble makers and hula hoops.

But, so far, this is the first Easter WEAP has made special for families, all because of Connors' help.

"I'd like to have more volunteers like him," Karch said of Connors, then laughed. "I'd like to have a dozen more like him."

WEAP is always in need of donations and volunteers. It can be reached at 383-4054.


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