Early last week, People Helping People President Gala Wilson was in the storeroom talking to a volunteer about the organization’s low supply of ground beef.
“We were down to a little box of hamburger. So I walked up front and saw I had a message from Ryan Blumenstock,” Wilson recalled. “I called him and he asked, ‘What do you need?’
“I thought, ‘We need hamburger meat, but I hate to ask,’ but I asked anyway,” Wilson continued. “He said, ‘I have a way we can get some for you.'”
Today, ten days later, a truck arrived at People Helping People loaded with 450 pounds of ground beef to restock the organization’s pantry with an important source of protein.
“It’s really important, because it’s what most people build their meals around. It goes a long way,” Wilson said. “We are so thankful to Ryan. He supports us year-round and has for years, especially at Christmas time when we adopt families out, McDonald’s always steps up big time.”
Blumenstock said with the timing of events, it’s hard not to “see the Lord working” in the donation. “That’s pretty special, for sure. When (Gala) called, the surprise in her voice, it was fun to hear.”
Because restaurant sales are down, the regional distributor for McDonald’s beef, Earp Distribution, had recently frozen lots of fresh beef that would have been sent to area restaurants. Blumenstock said the donation couldn’t have happened so quickly without cooperation from owner Cliff Earp.
“He sent me a truck and a trailer. They , ‘How much do you need?’ They really facilitated getting that here.”
The gift is especially important at a time when many other food donations are not an option. People Helping People is not accepting most food donations because of concerns about coronavirus affecting its own volunteers, many of whom are older and more at risk of serious complications.
An annual food drive by the Boy Scouts, usually held in March, was called off. The Stamp Out Hunger food drive, usually coordinated by the Post Office in May, has already been postponed. Ozarks Food Harvest continues to be a source of supplies, and Wilson said she does some shopping herself for supplies when needed.
Wilson notes that People Helping People accepts monetary donations through its website. And through all the changes of the past few weeks, Wilson said she continues to be impressed with the community.
“We have the kindest and most giving people in Republic. They just amaze me,” she said. “They really care about each other.”
Blumenstock, who grew up in Republic, said it’s important to him to help organizations like People Helping People and Care to Learn, which are “very special to this community. I think anybody that has the ability to help those two organizations specifically ought to. We’re just trying to do our part.
“There’s certainly a lot of gloom and doom if you watch the news,” Blumenstock said, “but if you look for good, there’s a lot of good stories to be found in what people are doing for each other.”