2021 Rogers Scholar Merrick Taylor collected a truck load of non-perishable food items in a holiday food drive for the Garrard County Food Pantry.
Merrick, a student at Garrard County High School, placed collection boxes at key locations throughout the community for people to drop off food items.
“I used to be oblivious to people in need. In my personal experience, I had never had to worry about when my next meal was going to come, and like some, if I was going to eat at all. I had no idea over 900 families in my community needed help with things such as groceries.”
With assistance from her fellow youth members at Lancaster First Assembly of God and other volunteers, Merrick was able to deliver the food to Garrard County Food Pantry at its new location one week before Christmas.
She estimated the Operation Food Drive community service project contributed to the distribution of over 900 meals to families in need.
Each graduate of The Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars program is required to complete a community service project. For more information about Rogers Scholars, visit www.centeryouthprograms.com.