CAIRO, Ga. — A non-profit that feeds hungry children in Cairo is struggling to deal with the fallout from the March 3 tornado.
Kids Against Hunger has locations throughout the country.
"This is the room where we stored everything. As you can see, it's been hit by a tornado," said Anne Horne, Co-founder of Kids Against Hunger in Cairo.
The ingredients stored in the room weren't damaged, which is a blessing considering most of the roof was ripped off the warehouse.
"In here is where we would do a lot of the packaging when we had a large group," said Horne.
Horne and her husband felt God call upon them to become a part of Kids Against Hunger in late 2003. They started by packaging meal kits to help feed those starving overseas.
“The nutrition needs, and the hunger needs in this country began to grow, and Kids Against Hunger came up with a domestic product. So, for the past few years, our emphasis has been in this country," said Horne.
Since then, she along with many other volunteers, have helped provide meal kits for thousands of people in the states, including those affected by recent hurricanes, like Harvey and Michael.
Then, Cairo’s tornado destroyed their building. Volunteers, including several Pelham wrestlers, quickly moved ingredients like the rice, beans, and spices, as well as the previously packaged meals, to a different location.
“The task of emptying this building was enormous," said Horne. "She brought her wrestling team in and in an hour and a half, they had all the Kids Against Hunger stuff out of here that was perishable and moved all this stuff down here for me."
Now, Anne and her husband are left with a destroyed warehouse, and undamaged supplies that can be donated to another Kids Against Hunger location, if needed. But Anne would rather see someone take over what’s already in place.
“This is good equipment if there is a calling on you, on the person's life. It was just Melvin and I," said Horne. "We didn't have a committee. We just decided that we can do this. It doesn't have to be a civic group. It can be a couple, like us."
Horne told WTXL that the warehouse will be torn down, but she hopes that someone can come in and salvage the wood and tin roofing that wasn’t damaged in the storm.
Those interested in continuing the Horne’s mission can contact Kids Against Hunger in Cairo.
