Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlene Keith.
Hi Charlene, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I attended foodbanks in the past. I was homeless and a single parent at that time with 3 little babies and 3 separate fathers that were of no use to me and my babies. Life happened. Now I am the mother of 6 adult children doing very well for themselves. A couple of years back my bestie invited me to a local food bank, I went and was overwhelmed with food that I don’t eat as I am vegan. I gave some to my hubby but there was excess, I offered to my neighbor with her kids and she accepted.
My hubby suggested that I ask others through the Buy nothing Windsor forest website which I did and it led my daughter to call me and ask if I was giving away food because the yard was full of people, the line was backed up down the street and almost to Abercorn. After that point it began to grow and grow and grow, now we fed approximately 3k neighbors all over Savannah and the surrounding areas, I had no idea what God was doing but my answer remains YES and I am here for it all. There are many gaps that I left out that I would need to share in person, this is a small snippet of the entire testimony. I would love to tell you how I got from A TO Z WITHOUT HOLES AND GAPS.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Three of the main struggles are 1. Volunteers 2. Resources (we manage donations only) 3. There is a cost for the food from Second Harvest.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about WF Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Incorporated and NFN Community Gardens?
We are a 501c3 minority-owned (Black and Woman) nonprofit food bank. We offer a “SHOP FOR FREE EXPERIENCE” to all neighbors. We host our free food giveaway every third Saturday of the month. We are known for the quantity of food, types of food, and the manner in which we serve our neighbors. The way in which we service our neighbors sets us apart from all the other food banks, we allow our neighbors to come in and shop for whatever their need is, nothing is prepackaged and placed in their trunks NOTHING AT ALL!
We also deliver 100+ boxes to our Seniors aged 65+, we offer EARLY BIRDS to our seniors 75+ that shop before the general population of neighbors, we offer AFTERCARE which is an Emergency food box service, and we offer Sweets and Treats to our community heroes, roofless neighbors, battered women’s shelter, etc. It is indeed a lot to type… I would rather speak with you face to face and tell you all about every facet of WF NEIGHBORS FEEDING NEIGHBORS and everything we do and how we do and let you as we proclaim it from the rooftops THIS IS ALL GOD! I am constantly in awe and amazed by the doors that are open to us and the grateful hearts, smiles, and tears we encounter on a daily basis.
Contact Info:
- Website: WWW.WFNFN.NET
- Instagram:@wfnfn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wfnfn/
- Tiktok: @wfnfn
