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Almost 40 bags of donated goods were sorted and given out to the community from the Chambers County Community Health and Wellness Center for the Holiday Food Drive. 

Fire Chief James Doody said it was a great turnout for their first time. 

The food drive, a partnership between LaFayette Fire & EMS, LaFayette Main Street and the Chambers County Community Health and Wellness Center, accepted donations of nonperishable items until December 22. 

The food drive came about after health center bags came in the mail. Doody said he saw the bags and knew they needed to use them as soon as possible. 

“When I saw the bags, I’m like let’s do something with these like right away,” Doody said.

On December 23, community members were invited to come pick up one bag per household. The health center passed out 38 bags of donated goods.

Next year, Doody said he hopes to expand the partners for the food drive to include the new Inspire Academy Food Pantry and the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. He also hopes to include a toy drive for Christmas in 2024. 

Doody said the goal of the health center, like LaFayette Main Street, is to bring resources into the community to help with the rural healthcare disparity. The health and wellness center hosts many resource events through Auburn University faculty and staff. 

“We can just do a better job taking care of our residents in the immediate area because obviously there is a need,” Doody said. 

The center also hosts the OnMed telehealth station, which has had record-breaking attendance from the community. The LaFayette station has had the highest number of patient visits of any station in the country. 

Doody said the fire department along with LaFayette Main Street and the health center hope to continue providing resources and meeting needs within the community. 

“We’re doing great stuff, and it’s not hard to do,” Doody said. “It takes a little time and effort but it’s all for a good cause and good reason.”