Les Cockrell

A healthy donation from the CoServ Charitable Foundation will go a long way toward helping an area ministry meet its goal of providing weekend snacks for youngsters.

Mina Field, founder of the Justin Elementary Snack Pack Ministry, said Dennis Engleke, executive director of the foundation, recently presented a check for $6,000 to Northwest Christian Community Services, which sponsors the ministry.

Money from the grant will be used to provide food over the weekends for children at Justin Elementary School who qualify for the National School Lunch Program, Field said.

“The amount given will be enough to serve 60 children for one school year,” she said. “We’re really thrilled.”

The goal of those involved in the ministry is to raise enough money to feed 75 children this school year, Field said.

Engleke made the presentation during a ceremony at the Roanoke Food Pantry. CoServ gave $2,600 to help the ministry last year, Field said, and other donations came in from individuals, fundraisers, churches and businesses. The donations allowed the ministry to provide for 61 children, she said.

Field said ministry volunteers order food, pick up the orders and then assemble food packets for the children. Other volunteers deliver the food to the school, where it is distributed to teachers. The food packets are put in the children’s backpacks when the children are out of the room, so they can be taken home for use over the weekend.

Items provided include fruit, cereal, cheese crackers, pudding, pasta and juice.

The cost to meet the ministry’s goal of providing for 75 children will be approximately $110 per student for the year, Field said.

For more information or to make a donation, call Field at 940-648-2427.

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Tarrant Area Food Bank, which serves 14 hunger-relief charities in Denton County, will have an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to kick off the third annual national Hunger Action Month, said Andrea Helms, communications director.

Those who visit the food bank on Wednesday will receive behind-the-scenes tours and be offered information on community programs such as Community Kitchen, Kids Cafes, Backpacks for Kids, Operation Frontline and food distribution to 13 counties, Helms said.

When people visit, she said, it impresses upon them just how great the need is in the areas served by the food bank.

“We try to invite people in and let them know what we’re doing,” she said.

“People have no idea of the size of the operation here,” Helms said. “There are so many needs out there.

“It doesn’t go away.”

The community’s support is especially needed as the economic recession continues to take its toll, Helms said. Tarrant Area Food Bank’s partner charities reported serving 21 percent more people this past fiscal year (2009-10) than they did the previous fiscal year (2008-09), she said.

“The need isn’t going down yet.”

During the month of September, area residents are invited to learn “30 Ways to Fight Hunger in 30 Days,” Helms said. Those who visit www.tafb.org will find suggestions on observing Hunger Action Month.

“They can visit our website and get ideas for doing things with their families, co-workers and friends to help in some way,” she said. “We emphasize volunteering.”

The Tarrant Area Food Bank is located at 2600 Cullen St. in Fort Worth.

To make a reservation to attend the open house, call 817-332-9177, ext. 110.

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Area residents are invited to help out with a blood drive planned on Thursday by the city of Pilot Point, Karen Schoonover, deputy city secretary, said Friday.

The blood drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in conjunction with the American Red Cross in the council chambers at Pilot Point City Hall, Schoonover said.

Appointments aren’t necessary but are available to anyone who needs one, Schoonover said.

“They can call me if they want to put their name on the list ahead of time,” she said, adding that donors may also register online at www.redcrossblood.org by using the sponsor code, pilotppoint.

Donors should bring a blood donor card, a driver’s license or two other forms of identification.

For more information or to schedule a time, call Schoonover at 940-686-2165, ext. 19.

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A rescheduled parade should help residents of the Lake Cities area get their Labor Day weekend off to a rousing start.

The Lake Cities Independence Day Parade, which didn’t roll on July 3 because of rain, is now set for 9 a.m. Saturday, according to an announcement from Julie Chapman, special events coordinator for the city of Lake Dallas.

Bill Utter Ford of Denton is sponsoring $1,000 in cash prizes, including a grand prize of $500 for the best entry overall, $200 for the runner-up entry and $100 for each winner in three divisions: float, vehicle and walking/marching/horse, according to Chapman’s announcement.

The parade lineup will be held at 8 a.m. in the west parking lot of the Lake Dallas Middle School, located adjacent to City Park on Hundley Drive in Lake Dallas, Chapman said. Those who signed up for the original parade date will be provided updated information, and new entries are welcome, Chapman said.

A signup form and parade lineup map is posted on the “Special Events” link at www.lakedallas.com.

For more information, call Chapman at 940-497-2226, ext. 132.

LES COCKRELL is interested in your input for Out & About. Help share information about Denton County events and people by calling him at 940-566-6887. His e-mail address is lcockrell@dentonrc.com.