The Selma Exchange Club presented five different local organizations with $250 checks Monday to help with various projects the groups do throughout the year.

Robert McConnell, president of the Selma Exchange Club, presented checks to Jeff Harrison, executive director of the Selma Area Food Bank; Willie Harris, pastor at Green Street Baptist Church; Edna Vasser, community volunteer leader of the Selma American Red Cross; Remonia Minor, interim director of SABRA Sanctuary; and Monique Brech, director of the Salvation Army Center in Selma.

“The primary purpose of the Exchange Club is the prevention of child abuse. But during the year we have presentations that occur during our meetings, we meet with different folks from the community and they make presentations about what they’re doing in the community,” McConnell said.

McConnell said the board meets a few times a year, and they decide what organizations they will provide the donations to.

“This is part of what helps to not only build a community but increase the strength of the community,” McConnell said.

One of the organizations was Green Street Baptist Church, which suffered a tremendous structural loss in April when the roof of the sanctuary collapsed shortly after a Wednesday night Bible study.

“We are forever grateful for this contribution that was made by the Exchange Club,” Harris said. “We had met earlier this year, and they had promised that they would do everything that they could to help with our situation that we had back in April. We do thank them so very much for what they’ve done. It’s our prayer that God will continue to bless them in the work that they do for Selma and this community.”

Harrison said he is thankful for the donation, and he is honored that the Selma Area Food Bank was chosen as one of the organizations.

“We are excited that Dallas County and the people of Dallas County and the Exchange Club and various civic clubs care and are willing to help the food bank and the mission that we try to accomplish of trying to make sure that nobody goes hungry and that everybody gets something to eat,” Harrison said. “Especially this time of year, it’s very meaningful to know that people do care and people want to help. We’re excited about that and very grateful.”

Harrison said supporting the community through different organizations and acts is the best way to keep a city thriving.

“That’s the only way that a community can survive is we all have to help each other and pull together and move past some of our differences to see the true meaning this time of year of helping others and giving back,” Harrison said. “I’m very honored that they chose us and the other four as well.”