Not everyone

receives 200 birthday presents and then gives them all away.

When Katie

Farrell sent out invitations to her tenth birthday party she added that

she didn't want any presents just cans of food for the Fayette Samaritans.

The 17 invitees

brought almost 200 cans of food to enrich the food bank at the ten-year-old

organization.

The Fayette

Samaritans is a nonprofit organization supported by the community at large

and nearly 30 churches in the county.

Because churches

do not have the time or expertise in interviewing clients who need food,

clothing or a utility bill paid, the Samaritans do this for them. The

interviewers are all volunteers.

It issues a

listing each month for the items needed for that month as the items change

in need from time to time. A listing of current needs is found in a box

accompanying this article. At this time of year warm clothing is also

needed.

Katie, a fourth-grade

student at Brooks Elementary School, had flown to New York in the spring

to join in a birthday party for a friend there who encouraged canned food

for presents. She knew about the Samaritans through her church, Brooks

United Methodist, and decided it was more important to give than to receive.

Katie is the

daughter of Randy and Vicki Farrell and has two brothers.

The Fayette

Samaritans are located at 213 N. Jeff Davis Place, Suite 102, Fayetteville

and can be reached at 770-719-2707.