Helping Hope Place

Sheriff Ana Franklin (Back, L) and her supporters gather in front of the bags of food collected for Hope Place.

Sheriff and supporters join together for drive

A food drive sponsored by Morgan County Sheriff-elect Ana Franklin and her campaign team provided over 1,000 bags of non-perishable food for Hope Place, a safe haven for battered families and abused children, prior to the Christmas holiday.
The food bags, which included cereals, pastas, baby food, cookies, children’s books and toiletries, were valued at $20 each. They were transported from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in Decatur to Hope Place on Thursday, Dec. 22. The delivery was made by Franklin and about 20 other volunteers.
Franklin said the project was dedicated in memory of Beth Godfrey, a Morgan County 911 operator who was the victim of a murder-suicide.
She and some of her campaign workers initiated the project last year by soliciting donations of food from individual families. To do that they placed empty paper food bags on the front porches of residences with a flyer requesting a donation for Hope Place. Two days later volunteers picked up the bags.
“We filled about 200 bags last year,” Franklin stated. ‘This year we had more volunteers and were able to put out more food bags.
“Our goal is to make this an annual event,” she added.  “Domestic violence is a major problem in Morgan Country and I’m committed to do everything I can as sheriff to combat it. The food that was donated will be used to feed battered families while they’re at Hope Place as well as to help them get back on their feet when they leave.
“We want to thank everyone who made a donation and had a hand in making the project a big success,” she stated.  “It was a blessing for those of us who worked to pick up the food and get it to Hope Place where it is needed.  “We are reminded again what a great community we live in.”

Supporters load the truck headed to Hope Place.