Published: October 29, 2009 11:39 pm      

Teaming up to ensure plenty of thanks

GREENVILLE — The Hartman House Foundation is partnering with local entities in an effort to ensure that everyone in Hunt County has something to be thankful for this year.

The foundation is teaming up with Hunt County Coalition of Pantries, Living Water Teaching and New Life Church to distribute Thanksgiving baskets for its fifth annual Hartman House Thanksgiving Harvest.

This non-profit organization — based out of Los Angeles with local ties to Caddo Mills — was formed by Butch Hartman, creator of The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom, part of the cartoon lineup on Nickelodeon. This organization sponsors ministries all around the world and last year, Hartman himself was present at the Harvest and signed numerous autographs for the kids who attended.

FISH (Hunt County Shared Ministries) is one food pantry that is part of the coalition that partnered with Hartman House this year.

“Last year we got involved kind of last minute to help get families connected to Harvest,” said Wally Jeffers, director of FISH. “This year, we’ve had several things happen, the most important of which is the creation of a coalition of pantries in Hunt County. We’re all working together.”

The main drive to partner with Hartman House was to create one location in Hunt County that families could go to in order to receive their Thanksgiving baskets.

“We thought it would be simpler that way,” said Jeffers. “We’ll all just pull our resources together to help with this project so we don’t have to worry about who got what and where.”

The baskets will be distributed Nov. 21 at New Life Church, 3101 US Highway 66 in Caddo Mills.

Registration forms can be picked up beginning Wednesday at any area food pantry. Forms will be available until Nov. 13.

Last year, Hartman House provided approximately 600 baskets, complete with turkeys and all the trimmings, to more than 600 families in need throughout Hunt County. This year they hope to provide for more than 1,000 families; and, thanks to the partnership, they can do all this at no cost.

“With the economy the way that it is, we feel like we’ll feed 1,000 families pretty easily,” said Jeffers. “There’s so many more in need this year than last. We’re working with the North Texas Food Bank in our partnership and will be using some of the proceeds from the Hunt County Shares and Cares Food Drive held by the Herald-Banner to purchase food for the baskets. We’re pooling all our resources to make sure that this year all families truly get to have a Thanksgiving.”