Several food giveaways have taken place in Coahoma County since March when the coronavirus pandemic began causing economic problems everywhere.
Melody Ndiaye noticed one issue that had not been addressed and decided to do something about it. She organized a food giveaway for frontline workers at Sasse Park Saturday morning. Between 250 to 300 frontline workers received gift bags with a choice of a hot dog, homemade sub sandwich, pizza and fried taco.
“A lot of people might be doing something for the children, but I am doing something for the frontline workers here because nobody has done anything for the frontline workers here that I know of on this side,” Ndiaye said. “I know one other person wanted to do something for the frontline workers on the east side of a building, but they couldn’t with the capacity of the building. This is the one I wanted to present to everybody. It’s for the care workers. It’s for the nurses. It’s for the fire station, police station and ambulance service. It goes out to everybody. It’s not any particular group.”
Ndiaye said as individuals drove to Sasse Park, she and all the other volunteers were able to tell who was a frontline worker.
“They all have their uniforms on,” she said. “They got their mask on and are ready to go.
“They come with their uniform on. If they don’t have a uniform on, they can show an ID to prove they are a frontline worker.”
Ndiaye said she had the support of Clarksdale mayor Chuck Espy and her former boss Clara Sims, who is the director of Florida Care Properties Inc.
“I paid for everything by myself,” Ndiaye said. “Nobody donated anything. The only thing donated was that tent.”
Members of the Clarksdale Fire Department paid for the tent used at the event.
Ndiaye explained why she thought Sasse Park was a good location.
“This location is better because it has a U shape, so it will be safer for the cars to come in this way and then go out that way, so it will be a drive through,” said Ndiaye, adding frontline workers were able to stay in their cars and drive off.
“We want to thank them for everything they’ve already done and the courageous acts they are doing by staying at work when they couldn’t come home like us.”
