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Juna’uh Allgood
Editor
spectator@muw.edu
When most college students have money troubles, they do things like eat in the cafeteria more, watch their shopping budget, and spend a little less on gas. But not all college students are typical and when money troubles hit non-traditional or commuter students, the solution can be more complicated than simply watching their spending habits. However, there are several organizations in Columbus that can help these students make it through.
The Salvation Army is one such organization. Many students are aware of their thrift store but few are familiar with the other services they offer.
“We haven’t had any students come in that I know of,” said Captain Berdt Lind, of the Columbus Salvation Army. Lind says that, while some information about income and expenses would be required, all students would have to do is come into the office and speak with a case worker about their needs.
There are no specific bills that the Salvation Army will help with, though common ones are utility, rent, car repair bills and other emergency expenses. While Lind said that an emergency situation would have to be proved, he adds that they “look at every case individually.”
Helping Hands is another program set up to help with sudden expenses. They have helped the community for 20 years, although many W students have not taken advantage of their services.
Nancy Guerry, the Helping Hands director said that they provide one time only grants for emergency situations such as “an illness, surgery or sick child” causing someone to get behind in their bills.
“It’s not for if you can’t pay your bills each month,” said Guerry. “We have some people
that come and their expenditures are greater than their monthly income, that’s a choice that has already been made.”
To get help, students are required to show income and expenses. Helping Hands does look at scholarships and grants as income but also takes into account school expenditures.
There is also a food pantry, stocked with non-perishables, which students can take advantage of.
Another program in the community is Angel Food Ministries. A national program, it is run locally by Hope Community Church, First United Methodist Church and Bethesda Baptist Church.
Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization that provides food boxes at a lower cost than the food could be purchased for. All the proceeds go to benefit senior citizens.
The food is all the same high quality one would purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe. Instead, by buying the food wholesale, with special discounts, the organization is able to sell boxes of food at almost half their comparative cost.
Unlike the other organizations, there are no qualifications to be met to participate. David Shepherd, head of Angel Food Ministries at Hope Community Church, said that using this service “helps a middle class person stretch their dollar.”
“I get one every month because with the meat and everything you get in it its such a deal,” said Shepard.
The signature box, which includes enough food to feed a family of four for a week, is $30.00. For November, the box includes: three rib-eye steaks, four boneless pork chops, a chicken fried rice skillet meal, lasagna, five breaded fish patties, lean ground beef, breaded chicken breast, frozen zucchini, cauliflower and broccoli, hash brown patties, cereal, onions, shelf stable milk, a dozen eggs and dessert.
Additional boxes include mixed meat boxes, mixed chicken boxes and mixed fruit and vegetable boxes. For those who can’t cook there is the Senior Citizen/ Person On the Go box which includes ten pre-packaged meals.
Interested people should contact the First United Methodist Church. Order forms are also available inside Atmos Energy. As well, orders can be placed at www.angelfoodministries.com.
Online forums have given Angel Food ministries some mixed reviews. “The Simple Dollar,” a financial tip website, attacks some of the food choices because of their nutritional value. They do admit however, that for the value, the food is a deal. They also make the point that if someone is financially strapped, the last thing that they are worried about is keeping a perfectly healthy diet.
For those who are not having money woes, or just would like to give back, these organizations are always in need of volunteers and donations.
Shepard, who helps deliver the Angel Food Boxes to those who are unable to pick them up, says that working with Angel Food Ministries is very fulfilling.
MUW senior Kathy Butler, who is a volunteer with the First United Methodist Church said “through my experiences with Angel Food Ministries, I’ve seen the lives of several families touched. It is exciting to be able to help others and also encouraging to see the community working together. I feel blessed to be a part of such a program.”
Helping Hands, which is run on donations, is also open to volunteers anytime. Guerry said that their food pantry is rather low currently and donations would be appreciated.
Another volunteer opportunity is being offered soon at MUW. Sodexo Food Service is hosting the Helping Hands Across America event on Thursday, November 12th. This is part of a larger event involving all Sodexo campuses around the country. They aim to break the world record for having the largest 24-hour food drive in multiple locations by a non-charitable organization.
Kappa Pi draws out success in autumn
Angelica Shields
News editor
A silent live art auction will be held at 6 p.m. at the Art and Design building in the Eugenia Summmer gallery.
MUW’s art department will host the 5th annual “Art in Autumn Auction” for the
Drawing out Success program on Nov. 7. Students and members of the Lowndes County community may bid on various works of art donated by students, MUW faculty members, art alumni and people in the Golden Triangle Region.
The W’s Rho Chapter of the Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity started the auction in 2004 as a way to raise money for various causes throughout Columbus. It was later decided to focus on one goal: giving back to local high schools. The “Drawing out Success” program was created in 2007 in conjunction with the 
auction as a way to raise money for supplies, equipment and art projects at local schools in Lowndes County and help develop a deeper appreciation for art among individuals in the community.
This year, Kappa Pi has partnered with Columbus High to help raise money for a ventilation
system for the school’s ceramics studio. Next year, the Columbus High art students will be given a tour of the W campus to view art at the college level.
Kappa Pi sponsor Dr. Beverly Joyce is especially excited about this year’s event, as it will be larger than the previous years. The auction will be held in the Art and Design building for the first year ever. Dr. Joyce is working to have much of the W’s alumni in attendance to make the evening a memorable occasion.
The event will include art from the Carradine’s House and the Amzi Love Bed and Breakfast of Columbus.
Also new this year is the is the addition of donated work by Tom Nawrocki, an MUW printmaking professor, who is internationally renowned around the U.S., China and other parts of the world for his calligraphy and digital prints. A print of Nawrocki’s work is featured as the prize for a drawing after the auction. Two hundred tickets will be sold for $20 each.
Food and door prizes will be available.
Joyce encourages MUW and the Lowndes County community to send in any works of art they wish to donate and to attend the auction. “It’s always a great deal of fun for those who attend,” Joyce said. “All are invited to come out and make the auction a success.”
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