Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee Volunteers With Gainesboro Church

Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee visited volunteers at Gainesboro’s New Hope Baptist Church Thursday morning.

The First Lady helped load food and water into local residents vehicles. Lee said many people are in great need for food during these hard times. She hopes by volunteering and meeting the people of Jackson County that the community will feel encouraged.

“We hope just by being out here that the people who come thru realize they are not forgotten, and they are seen,” Lee said. “And to support and encourage the churches like New Hope and local food banks that go through great lengths to provide food for people who need it.”

Lee said volunteering with the church’s food pantry distribution is apart of her Tennessee Serves initiative. Each month, Lee and her team visit areas across Tennessee and focus on a specific need. June’s focus is food insecurity.

“We are here to help draw attention to what they are doing so people can help, donate and volunteer,” Lee said. “Just meeting all the people here who are volunteers is so encouraging. Any nonprofit, any church that has a ministry of serving needs volunteers to carry out their ministry.”

Pat Eller of Granville was present for the church’s food distribution event. Eller said meeting First Lady Lee and receiving free food is a huge help to her and local residents.

“It was very interesting,” Eller said. “I really appreciate that fact that she (Maria Lee) was here. This giveaway is really a wonderful thing to the people of Jackson County.”

Kathy Goolsby said she is thankful for the church and Lee for volunteering and providing the community with food. Goolsby said she came out to the distribution event to help with feeding her four grandchildren.

Lee said Gainesboro Mayor Randy Heady informed her of the church’s food distribution focus when they first met on the campaign trial. Once the Tennessee Helps initiative started, Lee wanted to return back to Gainesboro to volunteer with the church. Heady is the pastor of New Hope Baptist.