THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 10, 1995 TAG: 9508100459
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
There was a festive air at Lake Kennedy Park.
Gospel music blared from speakers. Anticipation showed on the beaming faces of children as they waited to get their faces painted.
Several others counted their blessings. Some even prayed. Yet you wouldn't have known this was an event for people in need of food.
Operation Blessing, a hunger strike force convoy of Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcast Network, had its first successful hunger drive Wednesday in this modest community east of downtown.
A convoy of eight 18-wheeler tractor-trailers packed with 320,000 pounds of non-perishable food also distributed food to Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth.
Robertson, television personality Mr. T and Miss Virginia, Amber Medlin, made appearances.
Last year organizers tried for a Suffolk drive; only a few hundred people came. Organizers blamed a poor location - Shoulder's Hill Road - for the turnout.
This year, Rev. Tony Peaks and his wife Kathy of Suffolk's Open Door Church tried harder to get the community involved. Alarmed by city social service statistics showing that 16 percent of Suffolk's 53,800 population are food stamps recipients, the Peaks worked with city and community leaders to move the drive to an area closer to housing projects and modest houses.
And this year, 1,500 Suffolk residents came away with bags of dried goods, vegetables and toys.
``We didn't realize what a need we had here,'' said Tony Peaks. ``We've been praying as a church to find some way to help the community.''
And the people were grateful.
Leffrey Holliman works at a local landscaping company, but times have been tough for he and his wife and three kids. He asked his employer if he could leave work so he get food for the house.
``It's a blessing from the Lord. . . . And these people (Operation Blessing) will be blessed,'' said Holliman as he waited patiently in line with a grin on his face.
Laura Gholson, a 70-year-old disabled grandmother, said it's been difficult to juggle rearing her grandchild and making trips to the hospital.
``I'm in need,'' said Gholson matter-of-factly. ``It's just a blessing to receive.'' MEMO: Color photo appeared on p.B1
KEYWORDS: OPERATION BLESSING by CNB