HIAWASSEE, Ga. – For the second year in a row, an anonymous donor presented Towns County Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw with a $5,000 check to disperse among organizations that serve to better the local community. Commissioner Bradshaw chose to equally divide the donation between three institutions: Towns County Food Pantry, Almost There, and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program at Towns County Schools.

Teresa Stephens of the Ninth District Food Pantry, Malinda Ray of Almost There, and Towns County School Resource Officer Donnie Jarrard were invited by the commissioner to the county courthouse Monday, Aug. 26 to receive the gracious donation.

(L-R) Teresa Stephens, Donnie Jarrard, and Malinda Ray with Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw.

Stephens explained that the local food pantry serves 250 community families each week, and the funds will help support a backpack program for area students, aiming to provide easy-to-prepare, take-home meals. Almost There is a local halfway house organization that emotionally and spiritually assists recently-incarcerated women suffering from drug addiction, providing structure and accountability through meetings and substance screenings. Jarrard relayed that the DARE. donation is expected to fund Arrive Alive, a driving simulation program that focuses on roadway safety, in relation to alcohol and drug use, for student motorists.

Each organization’s representative, along with Commissioner Bradshaw, expressed profound gratitude to the mystery donor through FetchYourNews for the benevolent gift. Last year’s donation was divided between Towns County Food Pantry, Almost There, and CASA.

Feature Image: (L-R) Teresa Stephens, Donnie Jarrard, and Malina Ray with Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw.