PADUCAH—Martha's Vineyard's "Junk Food Sale" helped the organization raise money, which will go toward a carport to keep food cooler outside.
Martha's Vineyard helps feed those in need who are homebound, senior citizens, veterans, and handicapped. They provide meals and food supplies like butter, flour, eggs, etc., to those who cannot leave their homes.
The owner, Martha Bell, grew up in a family of 10 and said they always had enough food. Now, she wants to help those who don't.
"We always had access to veggies and all those things, and I just figured all my life everybody had it, you know, but when I realized there's a lot of people that don't have access to what I had as a kid, that I thought was hard work, I wanted everybody to be equal and this is a way I can kinda share my background history with someone who doesn't have it," said Bell.
When the organization receives donations and has extra of a certain type of food, volunteers leave the food outside near the building so that anyone who needs it can easily access it.
With the summer heat, Martha's Vineyard is working to raise roughly $1,400 to purchase a carport, which would help them keep the food cooler and out of the sun.
On Saturday, the organization hosted a "Junk Food Sale," complete with candy bars, sour candies, chips, nuts, gum, snack cakes, and other foods donated by local stores.
Though each item was only .50 to $1, Bell said the sale was successful, and they've raised 3/4 of the money they'll need to purchase the carport.
"We want everybody to feel that they have done a part to maintain getting that cover over those veggies in the neighborhood," said Bell.
Martha Bell, Owner of Martha's Vineyard
Not to mention, Bell said the sale allowed her to catch up with old friends.
"We had a girl that at one time, she was a volunteer here when she was just a young kid, and then when she got in college, she came back, and she would volunteer when they were out of college, and she came in today, and she submitted me a check to help pay for our canopy, and I just thought, you know, way back in her life, when she was nine years old, she never forgot Martha's Vineyard," said Bell.
As of Saturday night, many items were still up for sale. Bell said she plans to make a list of the items and have a sale next week to encourage more people to stop by and shop.
