FEEL GOOD FRIDAY: Local plant happy to assist in food pantry efforts

Tim Menke, alternative fuels and raw materials manager at Buzzi Unicem in Putnam County, hands a $1,000 check to South Putnam senior student-athlete Macie Bumgardner to purchase supplies for the New Providence Church food pantry. South Putnam sophomore student-athlete Madie Newby (far right) works with Bumgardner on the food pantry project.

Banner Graphic/JOEY BENNETT

When Tim Menke of the Buzzi Unicem plant in Putnam County heard about the work of two South Putnam student-athletes with providing products to the New Providence Baptist Church food pantry, he wanted to help.

Menke, the alternative fuels and raw materials manager at the plant, donated $1,000 this week to assist senior Macie Bumgardner and sophomore Madie Newby in the ongoing project.

“I think what they do is great,” Menke said Monday morning at the check presentation. “We would like to help all local charities as best we can.”

Bumgardner’s father works at the plant, and had put up some signs for fellow employees to possibly donate to the cause.

The girls contacted Menke about a donation, and he was glad to assist.

“We thought it was a great cause, and we wanted to help out,” he said. “It’s great that they are willing to spend the extra time and effort to make things like this happen.”

Bumgardner and Newby had a collection drive in April at South Putnam and brought in more than $1,000.

“We got some donations from people here at the plant after my dad posted some signs,” Bumgardner noted. “After that, the plant said they could help out more. We are very appreciative of that.”

"Feel Good Friday" is sponsored by Brad Tucker State Farm Insurance of Greencastle.

Bumgardner and Newby may be having another collection drive in the near future, but those plans have not been finalized.

Until then, the $1,000 can help to fund the growing need at the church’s food pantry.

Bumgardner said that numbers have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as job losses are increasing and some unemployment benefits are running out.

“Last Tuesday, we had 70 people come through, which is about 10 more than the two or three weeks beforehand,” she said. “We are getting more people needing it. This donation is going to help a bunch.”