Marshall County families will soon be able to take advantage of a more usable and inviting Marshall County Caring Needline.
A grand re-opening and ribbon cutting was held today at the facility at 207 Main Street in Benton.
The City of Benton applied for a 1 million dollar Community Block Grant on behalf of Needline and the funding from that grant was used to complete renovate the building and warehouse.
Needline Director Hollie Darnall says the renovation includes office space, a community room, and a new kitchen for cooking classes to show people how to use the commodities provided to them.
The warehouse where food is stored was gutted and the small rooms have been removed. Darnall says the open space will allow for a more efficient way of handing out food by bringing it in on pallets and boxing it up in a much simpler way.
Darnall says she has seen a big increase in the number of families in need. When she first started at Needline, food was provided to about 300 families a month . That number is now closer to 450 families.
If you want to help out, volunteer or donate! Darnall says that's how Needline survives. She says Feeding America provides commodities but there are a lot of extra things not provided by that program.
Anyone needing assistance should simply come in to the Needline office. They are open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 am to noon. You must be a resident of Marshall County and be income eligible. However, Darnall says very few people are turned away, adding they don’t want to let anyone leave without food.
