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As pandemic unfolds, Gang Free orchestrates food distributions

The Daily Dispatch - 4/17/2020

Apr. 16--HENDERSON -- Local nonprofit Gang Free Inc. today will conduct the third of three distributions of food and other household goods to low-income families in Vance County.

Today's distribution will focus on food boxes. City Councilwoman Melissa Elliott, Gang Free's director, said the group is working with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and will be giving out about 60,000 pounds of food.

Gang Free does similar work in normal times, but because of the COVID-19 coronavirus "there's more urgency now because people have lost their jobs and are waiting on unemployment" compensation, Elliott said.

A distribution of "100 bags of blessing" Wednesday covered items such as toilet paper -- sourced from outlets like Sam's Club -- and hand sanitizer, along with some meat and other food items, she said.

The group handed out milk Thursday, getting it from the Henderson-based MR Williams distribution company, and also has handed "kiddie bags" that came from Clearview Church, she said.

Gang Free has handled social-distancing requirements by having recipients line up their cars outside its building on Country Home Road. Elliott or another worker approaches the car to ask how many people -- particularly how many children -- are needing help. With that information, they signal to other workers how many bags to bring.

"We'll do it that way" again today, Elliott said.

The distributions come as the state remains under a stay-at-home order designed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The pandemic's brought a good bit of the area's normal economic activity to a halt, even though the stay-at-home order includes broad exemptions for "essential" businesses.

As of Thursday, there were 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Vance County and 105 in Granville County, Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison said. The Granville cases include 74 at the Butner federal prison.

Warren County continues to report three confirmed cases. There were 66 in Franklin County as of Thursday morning, according to a N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reckoning that's often trailed local figures.

There have been four deaths in Granville County from the virus -- all of them Butner prison inmates -- and one in Vance County. Franklin County's had five, all at a Louisburg nursing home.

Contact Ray Gronberg at rgronberg@hendersondispatch.com or by phone at 252-436-2850.

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