Answering the call: An outpouring of community support as Bread Basket moves into new location

By Kathy Barnes News Writer,

NEWPORT — Cocke County’s oldest food pantry has reopened in a new location. The Bread Basket had been housed in the basement of Riverview Baptist Church, but the food pantry was completely destroyed in the flooding from Hurricane Helene.

The organization had been working diligently to find a new location and to get the supplies and inventory needed to start over. Director Trish Clapper explained the new location was made possible by the support of the community, and although there are some shelves filled with food items, there are many more needs that the ministry needs fulfilled.

“We have been blessed by Mountain Ways and other donors. We have also been blessed to have the largest space we have ever had to operate the ministry,” Clapper told guests at the grand opening on Thursday morning.

The food pantry is now housed in a 6,000-square-foot warehouse at 625 Honey Bee Lane in Newport.

State Rep. Jeremy Faison said there had been an enormous amount of devastation recently explaining that the hurricane caused pain, death and destruction. He pointed out that sometimes something horrible can lead to something good.

“The love poured into this community is greater than that entire hurricane,” he said.

He said after the flooding and devastation he received calls from Joe Baker, who co-founded Mountain Ways and co-founded Ole Smoky, Lori Moore with Mountain Ways Foundation and Michael McCarter with Ole Smoky about how they could help.

“They are here for the long haul,” Faison added. “They are working to bring wholeness to this county.”

Mountain Ways Executive Director Lori Moore said showing love and helping neighbors are Appalachian values.

“Our foundation is so happy to help this organization,” she said. “For 62 years the organization has made a substantial impact on the community and that will be able to continue. We are here for the long haul and we are thankful for getting this opportunity.”

Representatives from U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger’s office and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s office were also in attendance.

There is a need for additional shelving, freezers and refrigerators for the food pantry, and there is also a need for food donations. One of the main things the food pantry needs is a large walk-in freezer that costs $20,000. It is needed before Thanksgiving, Clapper said.

Local businessman Rick Foust, who made the sign for the food pantry, challenged those at the grand opening to contribute to the cause. He said he was willing to contribute $1,000, and a few others in the room agreed to match his contribution.

Clapper said there is a GoFundMe set up at www.gofundme.com/f/rebuild-bread-basket-from-Hurricane-Helen to accept donations, or if anyone would like to contribute directly to the cause, they can visit the new location or contact her.

She said local restaurants have been preparing 200 to 300 meals per day to be delivered around the community. Clapper said those meal providers include Grillbilly Smoke, Monterrey Mexican Restaurant and Neighborhood Beer House. She also thanked Grace and Goodness, a caterer from Morristown, for providing the food for the grand opening event.

The Bread Basket is the only remaining arm of the Central Charities Committee of Newport, LLC. Attorney James “Jim” McSween completed the original paperwork for the organization and attended the grand opening event. He said he was glad to see the organization still serving the community after 62 years.

Clapper explained the ministry usually provides Thanksgiving turkeys and food boxes for 600 to 1,000 families every year, but this year, she believes there will be an even greater need.

She introduced several individuals who are instrumental in the food pantry and ministry, including Duke and Stephanie Seal. The newlyweds gave up their honeymoon to help set up the pantry. She said Duke also delivers the meals donated by the restaurants around to the communities throughout the county.

To donate to the organization contact Clapper at (865) 201-9946. The new hours for the food pantry are Thursday only from 7 a.m. until noon.

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