Jr. Woman’s Study Club ‘lends a hand’ to Lend-A-Hand Center to help with monthly food distribution

The GFWC Kentucky Barbourville Junior Woman’s Study Club joined Lend-A-Hand Center for their monthly food pantry distribution on April 19th, 2025. The juniors presented a monetary donation of $10,000 to the Lend-A-Hand Center, represented by Charles & Dianne Carnes, Melinda Hall, Billy Bingham and Bo Hensley to support their efforts to provide basic needs to our community. The club members who volunteered to assist with the food give-away were: Jimberly Jordan (President), Anne Pedersen (1st Vice President), Sherri Hammons (Parliamentarian), Heather Cole, and Cyndi Early. Charles Carnes, director of Land-A-Hand gave the club members a tour of current facilities and discussed the historical significance of the Lend-A -Hand Center. Founded in August 1958 by Co-Directors, Peggy Kemner, a nurse from Norristown, PA and Irma Gall, a school teacher, from Syracuse, IN.

Their dream, life’s goal and mission was to lend-a-hand to whomever, wherever and whenever. Exemplary christian lifestyles, through ministry in: 4-H work, midwifery, home health care, Sunday school, farming, veterinary work, clinical work, medical transportation with the help from volunteer staffing, work group involvement and community action work. It was wonderful to work side by side with other volunteers such as Dana, Gary, and Claire Shurtz from the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who are visiting missionaries that provided all of the canned goods and preserves from their factories in Utah. 

Around 100 families were served at the end of the food give-away.