Wayne County food delivery reaches 150 people

GREENVILLE — One hundred and fifty Wayne County citizens have received breakfast and lunch this week courtesy of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.

The meal service began last week for those in need during this COVID-19 state of emergency.

“Schools are closed, and the kids need to be fed,” said Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch. “That’s what we are doing.”

The deliveries, Finch said, have been made to a “mixture” of residents, but “mainly more families than senior citizens. … It’s countywide. We are delivering to Wappapello, Piedmont, Patterson, Mill Spring, Cascade.”

The deliveries began on Thursday, with 109 being served, said Finch, who indicated another 10 signed up for delivery on Friday.

Monday and Tuesday, “we had 150 breakfast and 150 lunches,” Finch said.

The deliveries, which usually take a couple of hours, are being made by Finch, his deputies and volunteers.

The deputies “are doing it while they are out and about,” Finch said. “There has been a couple of reserves volunteer to help deliver.”

The response, the sheriff said, has been overwhelming.

“Everybody is appreciated (and) thanks us for doing it,” Finch said.

On Monday, Finch said, he was contacted by a woman in her 80s, who had broken her hip last year.

“She just found out about (the meals) … she has not been out of her house in over a month,” he said. “We had already left for deliveries. I sent a couple of meals to her … then got her on the list for (Tuesday).”

A pastor, Finch said, also reached out to him on Monday.

“He said one lady from his church wanted to donate her tithe to the food program,” Finch explained. “The church also took in money.”

Although the sheriff’s department is not asking for donations to support the program, “we’ve had several individuals that have come in and donated to help with the costs,” Finch said.

On Monday, Finch said, they were running short of bread for Tuesday’s deliveries.

“Castello’s (Italian Restaurant) from Poplar Bluff donated some bread to us,” Finch said. “We went down and picked it up. That’s just awesome.”

The meals are prepared each day by the sheriff’s department cook, Chris Shaver, who is being assisted by volunteers, Nicole Owens of Williamsville and Frieda Williamson of Greenville, Finch said.

“I would like to personally thank my employees for stepping up and helping,” Finch said. “(They are) going above and beyond what they normally have to do, and they do that with no regret.”

It is unknown at this time how long the program will continue.

“We’ll see where this goes,” said Finch, who indicated sign ups are still being taken.

Those in need of meals are asked to RSVP by calling the sheriff’s department at 573-224-3219 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“If someone feels it laid upon their heart to donate, they can drop it by the office here” at Greenville, Finch said.