Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
RES windmill workers pose for a group shot after giving to Kimball Food Pantry in a big way.
Employees of RES, who work on windmills in the Kimball area, have donated truckloads of food to Kimball Food Pantry – a record donation to the charitable organization that helps those in need.
Not only that, the donation came when the pantry really needed it – during a slowdown of food donations during the pandemic.
The goodwill effort started with a phone call on Friday the 13th of November. This was not a Friday the 13th moment for those who believe in superstitions associated with the day.
It was DeeDee, an RES employee, who called pantry manager Chellie Autrey.
"DeeDee stated that she had asked around about who RES could make a donation to in the Kimball area," Chellie recalled. "She stated that RES likes to help the communities that they are working in."
Judy Perry, executive director at Vista Villa Apartments, recommended that DeeDee reach out to Chellie and the pantry.
What Chellie soon experienced was beyond anything she imagined.
"I had gone to meet DeeDee and she pulled up with three RES pickups," she explained. "Two of these were loaded with food, the other one had manpower (aboard) to help unload. They had taken up a collection from the 25 or so employees. They had collected over $1,000 and also food donations. DeeDee had used the money and bought food."
One pickup was full of food that DeeDee purchased and the other with food the employees brought in and donated.
The Kimball Food Pantry, located at 509 W. 5th. St., never before received such a large food donation.
"It is a lot of work to go out and buy that much food and then haul it all to Kimball and help take it into the pantry," Chellie said. "RES was extremely generous, and the people who delivered the food were kind and helpful."
The Kimball Food Pantry is organized by the Kimball Ministerial Association and a member of the Foodbank for the Heartland that supplies food to Nebraska and Iowa pantries.
"COVID has made getting food into the pantry more difficult because we are all donation-based and the donations have slowed down during COVID," Chellie said. "One local church has donated turkeys and hams for the holidays. Without them, the pantry would not have had much to give to people who need food.
"Kimball residents have been very generous to the pantry and without the community helping, we wouldn't be able help those in need."
