Pictured, from left, Susan Andrews, Dr. Dennis C. Rittle, and Liz Frazier. (Photo by Rama Peroo)
Following the purchase of a market heifer during the Cowley County Fair 4-H/FFA Market Livestock Auction held at the Winfield Fair Grounds on Aug. 2, Cowley College donated a total of 500 pounds of meat to Manna Ministries in Arkansas City and the Winfield Community Food Pantry on Wednesday.
According to a news release from Cowley, the college began purchasing cattle from local 4-H members and donating the beef to local food pantries in 2010.
Cowley College president Dr. Dennis C. Rittle met with Winfield Community Food Pantry volunteers Susan Andrews and Liz Frazier in Winfield.
“We are so grateful and humbled by this donation,” Andrews said. “This will feed a large number of people.”
The Winfield Community Food Pantry is housed in the Grace United Methodist Church apartments just north of the main building of the church. The pantry is dedicated to assisting the people in northern Cowley County who are in need of quality service, useable food items, and a nurturing and caring atmosphere.
Families coming to the food pantry must complete a referral form, have a picture ID, as well as have proof of a Winfield area address and meet the income guidelines.
Pictured, from left, Dr. Dennis C. Rittle, Lisa Longshorte, Terry McClure, and Peggy McClure.
“This meat is a godsend,” Frazier said. “This is the fullest our freezers have been in quite some time.”
Following the delivery of the beef minute steak, beef ribeye steak, and ground beef to the Winfield Community Food Pantry, Rittle then met with Lisa Longshore, director of Manna Ministries, in Ark City.
Manna Ministries is a faith based food pantry housed at the First Baptist Church, located at A Street and Central. They welcome all donations and hold a distribution on the third Saturday of each month. The food pantry continues to grow as they service the southern half of Cowley County.
Longshore said Manna Ministries serves numerous families each month and is glad to have the college as a partner to the food pantry.
“We are always excited for this donation from the College and for our patrons to have added protein,” Longshore said. “It is greatly appreciated.”
Entrance to Manna Ministries is thru the north parking lot of First Baptist Church on Chestnut Avenue.
Families will need to bring picture ID, proof of income, and proof of residence in order to receive the packaged beef.
Rittle was happy to be able to assist those in need, the news release stated.
“Compared to all the past years that I have been fortunate to represent Cowley College in delivering this valuable nutrition to our community food pantries in our county, this time has been the most heartfelt and heart-ripping,” Rittle said. “There is so much need in our community and so many hungry people and families. I just wish we could do more.
“On behalf of the Cowley College employees, students, and trustees, we proudly stand alongside our community food pantry volunteers as they reach our citizens and our neighbors who are in such great need. Thank you for your service and for allowing us to join with you.”
The meat was processed by Stroot Lockers in Mulvane.
