Cambridge, Maryland's Pine Street Committee to Offer Free Food and Clothing

The Pine Street Committee (PSC) will be offering free clothing and food to anyone in the community on March 9, 2009, at the Empowerment Center in the 600 block of Pine Street. Though the event will be open to everyone from noon to 3 p.m., those 60 years and older will be given the opportunity to participate beginning at 11 a.m.

"Our chairman Jimmy Cornish kept accepting clothes from the community and committed us to do this again," said PSC member Octavene Saunders. The PSC had held a food and clothing give-away this past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which reached over 200 people. The Eastern Shore Banner, which is the local newspaper, and WBOC-TV of Salisbury, Maryland, covered the day's activities. Volunteers delivered food within the city limits for those unable to make it to the Empowerment Center.

Tentatively, food for Monday will include macaroni salad, chopped ham and cheese sandwiches, chips and coffee. Unlike the January event, there will be no deliveries, although carry-outs will be permitted.

For the clothing, PSC volunteer Joyce Cornish, wife of Jimmy Cornish, has been unpacking and sorting the donated items.

Other volunteers like Gary and Celeste Gordy have been busy offering technical assistance, performing administrative duties and helping in other ways.

"Our whole aim is to help out the community because our community needs the help. One person can make a lot of difference," said Mr. Gordy, who explained he became involved at the Empowerment Center after speaking with PSC President Jimmy Cornish over a month ago.

"We did a lot of talking over the years about wanting to help out in the community and I feel this is one of the best things we can do for our community and for anybody that is in need. Just help out," Mrs. Gordy said.

Even their children, Faith, Rita and Spirit, have been volunteering at the center by cleaning and passing out fliers for the upcoming give-away.

"They have been getting on their bikes and just handing fliers out to people and going door to door," Mrs. Gordy said.

The Gordys would like to see more people volunteer for the PSC. "If we help out more in our society we would get more blessings," Mr. Gordy said.

Those interested in volunteering or who would like to have more information should call (410) 228-2250 or (410) 228-7990.