By Staff
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
The third annual Hartselle Caring Day was celebrated Nov. 6 and deemed a rousing success by sponsors BFI, The Caring Place, and the city of Hartselle.
Hartselle residents who participate in regular curbside recycling were asked by Mayor Clif Knight and the city to place canned and dry goods by their BFI recycling bins on Caring Day. Donations were then taken to The Caring Place and sorted into boxes to provide holiday meals for needy families in Hartselle and southern Morgan County during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Canned and dry good donations totaled 2,120 items.
"This will certainly make the holiday season more enjoyable for many folks," Knight said. "The residents of Hartselle have been very generous this and each year."
Shirley Wells, director of The Caring Place, said Hartselle merchants have also been generous.
"Thanks to local business, frozen turkey and ham donations are up significantly from last year," Wells said. "Their kindness and the kindness of the people of Hartselle will benefit so many in all sorts of situations this holiday season."
According to Wells, 17 frozen turkeys and one ham were donated.
Volunteers at The Caring Place were busy sorting and counting the donations for several days. Knight said Wells and the volunteers do an "excellent job" getting food to the approximately 200 needy families in the area.
"The Caring Place is the only service in Hartselle that provides both physical and spiritual needs to such a wide variety of people," Wells said. "We have wonderful volunteers from churches of all denominations and members of civic groups who enable us to minister to those in need."