Fulton Walmart donates food on Giving Tuesday

Katherine Bader, left, of the Fulton Soup Kitchen, and Walmart manager Bob Mays stand by the pile of food Walmart donated Tuesday. Bader said donations from Walmart have helped feed Fulton's hungry for years.
Katherine Bader, left, of the Fulton Soup Kitchen, and Walmart manager Bob Mays stand by the pile of food Walmart donated Tuesday. Bader said donations from Walmart have helped feed Fulton's hungry for years.

Heaped high with canned yams, stuffing and marshmallows, the table at the Fulton Soup Kitchen almost seemed too groan under the weight.

"I think nobody should be hungry," Fulton Walmart manager Bob Mays said as he presented the food donation Tuesday.

Following on the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a bit more altruistic. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Americans were encouraged to make donations to local charities and organizations. The tradition was kicked off in 2012 by a cultural center in New York City, and has since become a nationwide effort, according to givingtuesday.org.

However, Mays said Walmart doesn't just donate on Giving Tuesday. They typically deliver food to the soup kitchen three times a week, he said.

According to Katherine Bader, who runs the soup kitchen, the donations are very much needed and appreciated. Ever since a September fire damaged the New Beginnings Church of Christ in Fulton, destroying its food pantry, the soup kitchen has faced increased demands.

Walmart frequently donates zucchinis and bananas, which Bader turns into mini-loaves of zucchini and banana bread to hand out.

"I made 500 of them the other night," she said.

As always, the Fulton Soup Kitchen needs volunteers and food donations. The kitchen serves simple lunches and hot dinners Monday through Friday at the John C. Harris Community Center. To learn more or sign up to help, visit bit.ly/2BoYheJ or call 573-220-9517.