LETTERS: T.G.I.F. HELPS STOCK AREA'S FOOD PANTRIES

To the editor:

It is good to know there are large organizations like the Bootheel Food Bank in Sikeston that enable many small area food banks to assist people. So often we forget that there are people in our own communities to whom hunger is a real problem due to unemployment or reduced incomes. Please allow me to share with you a way we can all help to alleviate the hunger in our area.

In 1997, the president of our company, Phil Johnston, came up with a plan to benefit the hungry and boost the morale of employees. The program is called T.G.I.F. (The Gift Is Food) -- a Cause to Be Casual. It allows employees who wish to participate to bring a food or toiletry item to the office in exchange for the opportunity to dress casually for the day. Each employee who participates wears a T.G.I.F. button to explain the program to anyone who asks. The food is donated to a different food pantry at regular intervals.

Community Credit Counseling Service, American General Finance and Wood & Huston Bank have been participating in T.G.I.F since March 1997 and have donated nearly 1,500 pounds of food. We regularly donate to the Salvation Army, Safehouse for Women, Jackson Ministerial Alliance, American Red Cross and F.I.S.H. food pantry. All of these organizations have expressed their appreciation, and we hope to add more food pantries to our list in the coming months.

The knowledge that so many families have benefited from our food donations has been gratifying to those who participate in T.G.I.F. We hope more businesses will consider joining us in the war against hunger. If anyone would like more information about T.G.I.F, please contact me at the CCCS office at 334-7050, and I will be happy to get you the materials your office will need to participate in this rewarding program.

MICHELLE JOHNSTON

Consumer Credit Counseling Service

Cape Girardeau