Brown Bag of Columbus

BROWN BAG OF COLUMBUS
Food for the Elderly

Brown Bag thanks all donors to our mission:

Go to the Recognition page to see all donors for Second Quarter, 2010.

Started in July 1987, the Brown Bag is a nonprofit agency which provides groceries to low-income elderly individuals in Columbus
and Phenix City. It was begun after a survey, done in conjunction with the Area Agency on Aging, showed many individuals were
falling through the cracks and unable to get needed assistance from federal or local programs. Due to the various community groups
that help the general public and women with children, we decided to target the group that can least help their situation due to their
age and circumstances - the elderly.

Many years ago these individuals were told if they contributed to the Social Security system, they would be okay in their old age. The system failed to consider inflation. Many felt that Social Security was a retirement plan and they would have enough to live on. This has proven to not be the case and now they find themselves unable to meet the expenses that face them on a fixed income.

Studies have shown when financial difficulties arise people tend to find corners to cut. The cut is usually on the groceries they buy. To the elderly, this results in more physical and medical problems than the ones they may already have due to their age. This increases their medical costs which further decreases the amount they can spend on other bills and medications. That is why we are here.

With seed money from the Interfaith Food Bank and the Columbus Baptist Association, the ministry was started. Our sites in Columbus and Phenix City are set-up like a small grocery store where the members (recipients) can make their own selections of the items they receive, at no cost to them. Preserving their dignity is a number one priority for us. Each site is manned 100% by volunteers who do greeting, registration, shopping, bagging, carry bags for those who can’t, and showing each of them that people do care about them. The volunteers also make home deliveries to the elderly who no longer can come in; provide pickup trucks and manpower on the days we stock the site; and help with seasonal activities and fund-raisers.

To the increasing number of elderly who are retiring, finding themselves in a poverty situation is devastating. The need for assistance is present and growing, so are the applications for our program. One of our goals is to be able to assist every qualified, elderly individual that comes each month. To accomplish this, we need more of our communities to be involved in helping those who have given so much of themselves in the past and now find themselves in need.

Support for our ministry comes from the community - through individuals, work groups, church groups, schools, and civic/social clubs. Over the past twenty years, thousands of elderly have been assisted due to the generosity of individuals just like you.

Thank you again for caring enough to help us help them.

THERE IS HOPE AND A WAY TO HELP
BROWN BAG OF COLUMBUS + YOU

Phone: 706-596-8581
Email: brownbagofcolumbus@yahoo.com
Mail Address: Brown Bag of Columbus, PO Box 4828, Columbus, Ga 31914
Physical Address: 1342 17th Street, Columbus, Ga 31901 (directly behind Eastern Heights Baptist Church)
Community Information: Go to Columbus Georgia Online.