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Gang Free, FVW partnership gives community more options

The Daily Dispatch - 6/11/2020

Jun. 10--HENDERSON -- A partnership between Gang Free and Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity Inc. has provided food to the community.

It's Gang Free's effort with FVWOPP, Inc. supporting the expansion and growth to what Gang Free founder Melissa Elliot started four years ago, Abdul Sm Rasheed, the CEO of FVW, said. It's really Gang Free expanding its reach and impact, he said. Elliot has been doing food distribution for four years.

This is a partnership with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. The USDA is supplying food to all 100 counties in North Carolina. It's part of COVID-19 relief.

Partnership is key, Elliott said.

On Tuesday, a truck dropped off food at FVW. More than 100 families were served. The food bank truck included 2,000 pounds of orange juice, 49 cases of meat and 700 pounds of apples, among other things.

The food distribution is ongoing.

There are a total of seven distributions a month.

Distribution at Gang Free is every Monday and the third Friday. FVW is every other Thursday. Distribution is happening at these sites.

Gang Free also does a fill-your-bag on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through a partnership with Food Lion.

Elliott said a lot of what she does at Gang Free was taught by Andrea Harris, who was the first executive director of FVW.

FVW, which is a four-county agency, has been operating in the community for 55 years. FVW works with 1,000 families on a weekly basis.

Part of the success of what Gang Free and FVW are doing and attempting to expand is their partnership with the faith community in all four of their counties, Rasheed said.

There are eight churches FVW. collaborates with and one that gives them food boxes monthly. FVW is providing said churches food boxes to distribute.

Gang Free has received three different grants for COVID-19 relief.

The food bank is sending another truck load of food on Friday to Gang Free.

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