Help still available for those suffering

Thankfully our area was not hit with huge amounts of rain this last week, but still, people who have had damage to their property and need help can check in with Emergency Management at (936) 653-3395.

The resale shops in Coldspring and Shepherd are also great places to find replacement clothes, housewares and much more for extremely low prices. We have Care Share Food Pantry in Coldspring at 21 Butler St. (phone (936) 653-2001), and very shortly Shepherd will have the Rand-McIntyre Helping Hands Food Pantry open for business.

The latter held its dedication ceremony on Sunday. A very large crowd of people attended this event which catered a wonderful lunch before the ceremony. This is a brand-new building next to the old one on Magnolia Avenue behind the First Baptist Church.

The program included prayers from the Revs. Chester Holloway and Larry Allbritton of the Good Shepherd Baptist Church and Tamara Moore related the history of the food pantry which began in 1995. Sandra Parker read from Matthew the verses which inspired the original Sunday school class to work to create the pantry. Shirley Rand, whose name is in the title of the pantry along with Linda McIntyre, spoke about the work of all the volunteers who made this possible including the donation of the building from Glenn and Cindy Dillon.

During her talk, she asked Todd Dillon to say a few words. He reminded her he had been in her class when he was a boy. He gave the impression she may have been strict with him, but he said all he learned then brought him where he is today. Since he is now the county District Attorney he learned well.

Shirley was very touched by his words and from the event it was clear many people have and will benefit from this new food pantry.

Sadly, Linda McIntyre is no longer with us, but her daughter Ginger was there, and she said she knew her mother would have loved to see how many people had come together from other churches to help with the project. Mr. Weber from Good Shepherd Baptist Church talked about the building and all that went into it and how Ms. Rand made things happen.

It was a delightful event; the pantry will be a great asset to the community. It will be open Monday and Friday from 9 a.m.-noon, excluding holidays. Holloway told the crowd that the Master Gardeners of our county will work on a garden behind the property which will provide food for the pantry when it is created. This was an added bonus to the happy occasion.

•Coldspring Chamber of Commerce will have their July Luncheon at the Community Center on July 9. The guest speakers will be Emergency Management Coordinator Emmitt Eldridge, Mayor John Benestante of Coldspring, Mayor Charles Minton of Shepherd and Mayor Mark Wood of Point Blank. The subject will deal with the recent emergencies and there will be time for questions. It starts at 11:30 a.m. till 1 p.m., lunch will cost $10 if bought before July July 5 and $15 after.

•Shepherd Chamber of Commerce presented the Business of the Month to Shepherd Super Center owner Marvin Green and his sister have created a marvelous collection of goods including clothes, furniture, house wares and decoration and jewelry. I bought another wind chime for the porch and two roosters to put between the plants. They are metal.

Sunny, who served me, said they had completely sold out of the jars of preserves when I asked. Hopefully Marvin will get some more. Located off the frontage road before People’s State Bank at 11403 Highway 150, call in and browse through the large store. Call (832) 579-3800.

•It was Fish Friday at SJC Senior Center and a good time to present the Historical Commission of our county with a gift from Jeanette Cochran, who is moving from the area to live near her family.

Cochran said she had received the four paintings of Coldspring from the home of her brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Fannie Cochran. She thought they should stay in the area where they could be seen by residents and tourists who will visit our Old Town Coldspring.

I was happy as a member of our Historical Commission to receive them and will present them at our next meeting. I will let you know where they will be placed when this is decided. Dale Everitt was going to be there for this event but unfortunately could not make it. I know we are grateful for Jeanette Cochran for thinking of giving this gift to our community.

•It is last call for vendors for June 29 Independence Day event in Shepherd. We have a good selection of food vendors; Sarah’s Snack Shack will be there and many other food vendors. Download the form online and leave it at Shepherd Library or City Hall.

Contact the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce at (210) 995-7420 or the Coldspring Chamber at (936) 653-2184.

Yvonne Cones is president of the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.