THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408170120
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Christian Broadcasting Network employees will fan out across Hampton Roads today to help distribute 280,000 pounds of food, filling seven tractor-trailer trucks.
CBN will modify its normal operations for the day to provide about 187,000 meals to people in seven Tidewater area locations, including Suffolk.
Helping some 650 employees of CBN and Regent University will be Operation Blessing founder Pat Robertson, television personality ``Mr. T,'' Broadway performer Carol Lawrence, Kempsville High School football star and former NFL player D.J. Dozier and Miss America 1990 Debbye Turner.
The food distribution will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Chesapeake at Campostella Square at the intersection of Parkside Drive and Oxford Road, and in Norfolk at Mount Carmel Baptist Church on Church Street.
At 11:30 a.m., a news conference will be held at the Chesapeake site. Robertson, CBN president Michael Little, celebrities and local organizers will address the need for greater community action to help alleviate hunger in America.
The food distribution will continue from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at five sites, including New Hope Baptist Church at 4260 Pughsville Road, Suffolk. The other afternoon locations include Pine Chapel Community Center at 32 Crenshaw Court, Hampton; the intersection of 16th Street and Jefferson Avenue, Newport News; Fairwood Agape Baptist Church at 3709 Elliott Ave., Portsmouth; and Friendship Square Rental Office at 1235 Friendship Square, Virginia Beach.
Food also will be packaged at the Operation Blessing distribution warehouse at 907 Live Oak Drive, Chesapeake, for use at future Hunger Strike Force Convoy stops.
This is the sixth stop for the Hunger Strike Force Convoy '94, which began in New York City and will visit 17 cities coast to coast.
The convoy will distribute more than 3.4 million pounds of food, or the equivalent of about 2.2 million meals, including fruit, vegetables and non-perishables provided by farms, food processors and manufacturers across the country.
To ensure that individuals with the greatest need obtain the food, vouchers have been provided for use by families and individuals identified and pre-qualified through local churches, ministries and humanitarian organizations.
Operation Blessing, based in Virginia Beach, is working to identify additional sources of food among growers, packers, suppliers and brokers for use in ongoing efforts to feed disadvantaged people in the inner-cities.
The Hunger Strike Force Convoy '94 is part of an ongoing effort by Operation Blessing to relieve suffering and provide the basic necessities of life. Since its inception in 1978, more than 99 million people worldwide have receive more than $416 million in assistance through the network of volunteers and relief agencies. by CNB