There is a big project in Knoxville set for Saturday, June 11, when a hoped-for volunteer army of 1,100 comes together to pack 250,000 meals for relief aid in Ukraine. Operation Inasmuch (“Inasmuch as you did it for the least of these, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40) is a local nonprofit that packs nonperishable food for distribution around the world.
Dr. David Crocker
Members of the Rotary Club of Farragut are being asked to volunteer as are members of the other five Rotary clubs in Knoxville. Farragut Rotarian Cindy Cope Williams serves on the Operation Inasmuch board of directors. Dr. David Crocker, longtime senior pastor of Central Baptist Church of Fountain City, founded the nonprofit in 2006 and continues to serve as its author in residence.
Farragut Rotary recently sent $15,000 to the Rotary Club of Zilina, Slovakia, to help support Ukraine refugees that their club and other clubs are assisting in a number of ways. A former Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) student to Farragut Rotary in 2007-08 was Julie (Yuliia) Tryukhan. Today Tryukhan and her two children, still in Zilina, are being cared for by Rotarians there and making plans to come to Knoxville and Farragut.
This event will be Operation Inasmuch’s largest ever. They have raised all the money they need but are desperately seeking manpower. They need 1,100 volunteers who will be asked to work two-hour shifts.
“If enough Rotarians respond and want to work together, we can coordinate a group. Either register directly or contact me if you are interested in coordinating. I know this group and have worked with them several times in the past. They do excellent work,” said Jim Holleman of the Knoxville Volunteer Rotary Club. Rotarians can email Holleman or call him at 865-803-7777.
Here are the details:
- What: Food Packing Event for Ukraine — 250,000 meals
- When: Saturday, June 11 (shifts @ 8 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.)
- Where: Expo Center off Clinton Highway
- To volunteer and sign up: Just click here and note the shift times
“It is possible for groups to serve together, but we must have names and email addresses of each person. Every volunteer must be registered,” Holleman added.
Tom King has served at newspapers in Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and California and was the editor of two newspapers. Suggest future stories at tking535@gmail.com or call him at 865-659-3562.