Georgia's Largest Food Pantry is an Austell Gem

A Christian food pantry and outreach program in Austell could use helping hands and cold hard cash. 

That’s according to Darlene Duke, executive director of C.A.M.P., the Christian Aid Mission Partnership. 

Staple foods such as bread, dairy and produce are among the items the organization donates along with clothing and financial assistance for families facing hardships. 

Because the mission has seen an increase in the number of people seeking aid, Duke is soliciting the community for volunteers. Businesses and individuals making charitable donations also can contribute money that the organization can use to help meet the growing demand for food items. 

"We see things all the time," Duke said. "People have good jobs, a good education and through no fault of their own, they hit a brick wall." 

Located at 6289 Veterans Memorial Highway in Austell, C.A.M.P. is the largest food pantry in Georgia and is the Atlanta Community Food Bank's largest distributing agency. Unemployment, rising gas and grocery prices are among a number of reasons Duke believes more families are frequenting the pantry program. 

"You have to have food, shelter and clothing, and that's what we're addressing," Duke said. "It may not be glamorious, but you have to have enough for basic needs."

In February, Duke received the 2011 Woman of the Year award from Church Women United, a national volunteer ecumenical Christian women’s movement, for contributions to her community and church. She is president of the movement's Cobb unit.

Duke was nominated from her unit and selected for the award out of 10 units in Georgia, said statewide president Barbara Leath.

"She's a very hard worker. She's a team builder, and she has a love for her Lord Jesus Christ," Leath said. "She works well with others."

 According to Duke, 3,491 families were served from January through April, a 20 percent increase from the same months in 2010. Food provided per pound also has increased nearly 15 percent from 89 pounds of food per family in 2010 to 102 pounds per family this year. More than 12,000 people were served in 2010.

People are struggling, Duke said, and an unlimited number of families are being served daily.

“With the increase in demand, which has nearly tripled, we have increased our services,” Duke said. “We will serve everyone as long as they have a need.” 

C.A.M.P. has a clothing closet, a food pantry and provides financial assistance to eligible residents of Clarkdale, Austell, Mableton, Powder Springs and east Douglas County. Financial assistance includes help with prescription medications, rent and utilities. All services are provided free of charge and walk-ins are accepted. 

The mission was established in 1968 as a coalition of churches, according to its website www.svcamp.org. As a multi-faceted nonprofit agency, the mission now helps qualifying residents apply for food stamps and will soon be able to assist people in receiving state-sponsored health insurance. 

Separating clothes, distributing food or picking up donations from local stores are a few responsibilities volunteers could assume, said volunteer Carl McGourk. 

“There’s a lot of different things they could do,” said McGourk, 69, a six-year volunteer. "There’d be a lot of families doing without if (C.A.M.P.) weren’t there."

McGourk’s wife, Joyce, volunteers once a week and says there’s always something to be done at the mission.

“It just makes me see why people need the help of C.A.M.P.,” she said. “You just get a whole new understanding of what’s happening out there in the world and the hard economic times.”

C.A.M.P. will be accepting nonperishable food items at Mableton Community Day on Saturday.