JOHN COFFELTEditor

For 13 years, One Day of Hope has been helping those less fortunate in the Coffee County Community with an annual event held this year on Oct. 7 at the Coffee County Fairgrounds.

According to One Day of Hope President Ray Marcrom, all total the collection of all volunteers served about 2,100 people in the community.

“It was a great day,” Marcrom said. “It’s a wonderful group of people working together.

“Those volunteers serve their fell man with a love for one another and a love for Christ.”

Marcrom said the there was a great spirit to the event, with many prayer requests and prayer warriors out there.

The event provided services for just less than 2,000 people.

“Virtually all of those got groceries and hygiene items,” Marcrom said. “Close to 900 came through clothing. We gave away 1,120 winter coats and about 1,500 pairs of shoes.”

Medical services volunteers also provided 250 health screenings and local dentists scheduled 75 follow up appointments.

One Day of Hope coordinated with Partners for Healing, a free clinic for the working uninsured, to sign up 18 new patients.

The kid’s zone hosted 680 children and the group was able to donate 3,000 children books.

In order to help those get the items they need for work, requests are taken for items such as work boots.

Food items are donated through a partnership with Second Harvest Bank, facilitated through Manchester’s Good Samaritan.

“Our two cheese factories, particularity MDS Foods, provided special cheese,” Marcrom said. “We work with Second Harvest Food Bank’s mobile pantry, and they really came through for us this year.”

Marcrom said the event originated 13 years ago through the calling among members of the Manchester Ministerial Association to help those less fortunate.

“They all thought that we needed to do something to show that we love our community,” Marcrom said. “Right after we had the bad recession. A lot of people had lost work and needed help.”

Over the years as many as 80 churches have participated. Down a little in number but not in giving, this year’s event had over 60 congregations contribute money, volunteers or in-kind donations.

“It’s been a great participation,” Marcrom said. “I love a thing were a group says, let’s take care of one another. That’s what our world needs a lot more of.”

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.