By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Gentiva Hospice is holding its 12th annual food drive throughout August to benefit Through the Grace of God Ministries.

Employees from Gentiva Montgomery will place food collection bags at healthcare facilities around the Clanton community and collect from them throughout the month. They will take the food and monetary donations to Through the Grace of God Ministries, a local outreach that provides food, clothing and ministry to those in need.

“We need all the help we can get this time of year,” said Ralph Bingham, Director of Through the Grace of God Ministries. “People’s hearts get big around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the need is there all year.”

The goal is to beat last year’s donations, which totaled more than 838,000 pounds of food according to a Gentiva press release.

Gentiva Hospice provides a full range of hospice services to patients in Clanton. Its food drive relies on the help of the community and local healthcare providers. Gentiva of Montgomery asks the community to donate canned goods and asks healthcare providers to allow them to put out boxes.

“We encourage all local healthcare providers to contact us for more information on how they and their employees can participate in this community effort,” said Jennifer Stone, Gentiva Hospice Montgomery’s Executive Director.

To find out more about Gentiva’s hospice services or how to help, contact Barbara Jackson at (334)260-0015.

Through the Grace of God Ministries gives out breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday. Breakfast is 8:30-9:30a.m. and lunch is 11a.m.-12p.m. The building is located at 75 8th Street South in Clanton. To find out more about this ministry, call Ralph Bingham at (205)755-8199.