Needy families receive food from basket brigade

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
More than 125 needy families from throughout Morgan County have received all of the food they’ll need to serve a delicious meal on Christmas thanks to the generosity of Chappell’s Family Karate and Jujitsu of Hartselle, its students and their parents and other interested individuals and businesses.
On Monday, Chappell’s staff, students and parents unloaded a pickup and trailer filled with food items, sorted and placed them, item by item, into big cardboard boxes and either distributed them at their location in Morgan Plaza Shopping Center or delivered them in private vehicles.
Each gift box contained a ham and cooking pan canned green beans and corn, cranberry sauce, pineapple slices, 10-pound bag of potatoes, a two-liter soft drink, rolls, pie, greeting card and a bible.
The Christmas Basket Brigade was organized five years ago with funding coming from a Kick-A-Thon featuring Chappell’s karate and jujitsu students. Recipients are selected on recommendations from various organizations whose mission is to help the needy, as well as those whose names are brought to the attention of the staff and students.
In addition to the Kick-A-Thon, contributions to the project were made by Joe Wheeler EMC, County EMS and Pepsi Cola Bottling Co.
“It’s also a good object lesson for our students. We want them to know the thrill and satisfaction that comes from giving to someone in need.