After an article printed last week about a Perryville food bank having a hard time meeting the community’s needs, The Raptors motorcycle club stepped up to help.

Jayne Pitman, church secretary of Perryville Baptist, which runs the food bank, said the bike club is amazing. They came forward and donated $500, and are adding a challenge to Perryville and other Boyle businesses to match it.

“Or if they can’t match it, just give what they can,” said Raptors’ president, Bob Hill. The group is known for heading up fundraisers in the area that bring in money to help fund families’ Christmases and other holidays, for example. They’ve also raised money for area schools.

After reading the story, Hill said he and members had a discussion — “It made us remember that some families are hungry all year. And we thought we may be able to help.”

Making the challenge to other area businesses is just a friendly reminder to give back to the community however you can, Hill said. “We thought it may help to raise a bit more money for them.”

Hill said sometimes even the smallest gestures can go a long way — if everyone is making them.

Pitman said not only the Raptors responded, but the church has seen many gestures since it was made public they were having a hard time feeding families.

“We’ve had an outpouring of love and support from people and organizations in the community.”

As far as the Raptors’ donation, Pitman said “it’s amazing. They’re a group that just goes over and beyond in the community. Any time that anybody needs anything, they’re always there for them — the Christmas drive, now this.”

Pitman said two other churches in the area have also started taking up donations for the Perryville Baptist food bank, as well as some small business owners.

“This is what we wanted — for this to be a community food bank, not just a Perryville Baptist thing,” Pitman said. Individuals have also given donations at the church.

“It’s a small community,” Hill said. “We’re just putting it out there as a challenge, maybe someone would see it and say, ‘Hey. We can do that, too.’”

SO YOU KNOW

Food items are also accepted at the Perryville Baptist Food bank, located at 202 S. Bragg St. To contact the church, email pbcsecretary68@yahoo.com or call the church at (859) 332-8721. The food bank is open 10 a.m.-noon on the last Saturday of the month. If there is a local food need during other days of the month, someone is at the church from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday and will assist anyone if they can.