The generosity of Lincoln County residents shone through the fogof a bad economy this Christmas, taking the annual Holiday FoodPantry drive past the $8,000 mark, the previous record and allexpectations.

The drive to raise money for the food pantries of BrookhavenOutreach Ministries, St. Francis of Assisi/St. Vincent DePaulMinistries and Union Hall Baptist Church bested the previous recordby approximately $700, bringing in a new record of $8,486.

As a result, each food pantry received a record individualdonation of $2,828 – more than $1,000 above last year’s individualdonation, when a total of $5,200 was raised in a time before bankcollapses and bailouts.

“I thought it would be a slower year, which is what makes iteven more impressive,” said Bill Jacobs, publisher of The DAILYLEADER, which sponsors the drive alongside the Bank of Brookhaven.”I’m impressed by the generosity of the community during thesetough economic times. They’ve done what they’ve always done -stepped up to meet the needs of our community.”

This year’s Holiday Food Pantry drive almost brings the effortfull circle. The drive began during similar times, when a nationaleconomic slump in 2003 caused the local food pantries to run shortof funds. Jacobs said a former staff member came up with the idea,the Bank of Brookhaven joined up and the event has occurred everyyear since, except 2005, when Hurricane Katrina forced itssuspension.

Now, the drive will ultimately feed more people than everbefore. The three food pantries feed an approximate total of 5,000people each year.

Bank of Brookhaven Vice President Shannon Aker, like Jacobs, hadpredicted a slower year for the food pantry drive. He said he washoping to collect at least $5,000. He said the mountainous figureof $8,486 just proves something about the people in Brookhaven andLincoln County.

“When the ox is in the ditch, they’ll help pull it out,” hesaid.

Aker praised the collaborative effort between the newspaper andthe bank, each the only homegrown business of its kind inBrookhaven.

“We’re going to need that relationship in the coming year,” hesaid. “We’re going to have to really keep working together andsupporting each other.”

Representatives of the each of the three food pantries praisedthe venture even louder. The record donation arrives this Christmasat a perfect time, when demand for the pantries’ services is alsopeaking.

St. Vincent DePaul Ministries’ Becky Bowman said the HolidayFood Pantry’s donation would help feed hundreds at her ministry,which receives no other forms of outside help.

“It’s amazing. Can you believe the people in Brookhaven are sogenerous when times are so hard?” she said. “Work is slow, businessis slow but people still come through when you need them.”

Bowman said the donation check – the pantry’s largest source offunding outside of St. Francis of Assisi’s church members – will beused early in 2009 to replenish the pantry’s shelves.

Union Hall Baptist Church’s Gwen Dyess said her church willlikely begin spending the donation soon as well. She said UnionHall gives food to around 75 to 100 people annually.

Dyess said the large donation in the midst of the bad economyproves something to her as well, but her proof goes beyond thepeople’s generosity.

“This proves to me that God is still in control,” she said. “Hetouches hearts and they reach down into their pockets. There willbe a lot of people blessed with this.”

The Rev. Jerry Durr, director of the area’s largest food pantryat Brookhaven Outreach Ministries, said his organization would alsolikely put the donation to immediate use, pairing it with theministry’s other forms of assistance to replenish the pantry aftera year of dispensing to approximately 4,000.

“People are reaching out and going beyond,” Durr said. “It justgoes to show you that God has been involved.”