Community Partners Collecting Commodities To Celebrate Juneteenth

The Putnam County Democratic Party and the local NAACP have partnered for a commodity drive celebrating Juneteenth.

Coordinator Anne Austin said commodities will be distributed through Helping Hands. Austin said from 8:00 AM-6:00 PM through Thursday, anyone can donate money or goods to support those struggling in the community.

“Without economic freedom, you’re not a free person,” Austin said. “You have to be able to survive and have the housing, the food, the clothing that you need to survive. So we thought that went kind of nicely, hand in hand.”

The location to make donations is 111 North Cedar Avenue in Cookeville.

Austin said that monetary donations help people catch up on their electric bill, providing stability in a home that might be behind financially. Austin said that the Juneteenth message of freedom applies to many disenfranchised people in 2021.

“Whether you’re White, you’re African-American, You’re Hispanic, You’re Asian or you’re just poor of any race,” Austin said. “That we lift everyone up, a rising tide floats the boat. That’s what we want to do, is make sure that our population… that the people in the United States of America all have access to their basic needs.”

Austin said that partnering together makes efforts like these commodity drives more successful, affecting more people in need. She said that many people might have items stashed away from when the pandemic made it unclear how long some goods would be available.

“Toilet paper, the thing that we were hoarding last year at this time,” Austin said. “If you’ve got those extra rolls of toilet paper or paper towels that you bought up last year because you were afraid you couldn’t get them. Bring an extra pack down here.”

Austin said that canned foods, and other non-perishable foods are always needed during these drives. Household cleaners and toiletries are also on the list of needed items.

Donations will be collected at the Putnam County Democratic Party Office until June 17, from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM.