More than $8,000 will be split between five area churches and organizations that help feed the needy of Lincoln County through their food pantry programs.

The 13th annual Holiday Food Pantry Drive, sponsored by The Bank of Brookhaven and The Daily Leader, ended Friday. It raised $8,359.65.

“We want to thank everyone who contributed to this drive,” said bank president Shannon Aker. “It’s heartbreaking to know that so many people in Lincoln County can’t always have three meals a day — something that many of us take for granted. But it’s wonderful to know that our friends and neighbors care enough to help out financially so that these organizations and churches can fill that need.”

Daily Leader Publisher Luke Horton hopes that through this annual project, those who operate food pantries in Lincoln County will be recognized.

“These people provide a valuable service, and many of them do it as volunteers,” he said. “We hope that through this fundraising effort we not only help these groups add groceries to their pantries, but that it shines a light on both the needs of so many in our county and on the work that these groups do.”

Those who contributed are:

• Anonymous — $200

• Anonymous — $75

• Macedonia Men’s Sunday School Class — $100

• Anonymous — $25

And also:

• Anonymous — $1,300

• Anonymous — $184.65

• First United Methodist Church — $105

• In memory of Monzola “Polly” Banks — $100

• Anonymous — $100

• Big Mo Mo and Aunt Ronnie — $100

• Sylvia King Insurance — $100

• Lincoln County Republican Party — $200

• Anonymous — $200

• Anonymous — $100

• Easthaven Baptist Church — $100

• Shirley Estes — $100

• Women of the Moose — $200

• Cheryl and Moses Bell — $100

• K. Podlegs Jr. — $200

• In memory of David Douglas Sr. — $100

• Lola Douglas — $100

• Anonymous — $100

• Brookhaven Moose Lodge #1968 — $100

• Anonymous — $1,000

• Anonymous — $100

• Loyd Hall Homemaker Volunteers — $50

• Kevin and Robin Griffith Laird — $100

• Linda Foster — $20

• Carlton and Carrol Cobb — $100

• Lisa Rainer — $100

• Perry and Mary Smith — $200

• Anonymous — $200

• James and Cheryl Adams — $100

• Audrey and Clyde Allgood — $100

• Anonymous — $100

• New Hope United Methodist Church — $300

• Anonymous — $100

• Shelia and Misty Byers in memory of Ricky Byers — $100

• Anonymous — $100

• New Hope Quilters — $200

• Peter Mullikin — $100

• Anonymous — $200

• Carolyn J. Brown — $50

• Nena Smith’s School of Dance — $200

• Karen Sullivan — $100

• Anonymous — $150

• Anonymous — $200

• Bank of Brookhaven — $200

• The Daily Leader — $200