The collaboration between Milton Collier's nonprofit organization Lift Up With Purpose and Piggly Wiggly of Montezuma resulted in the distribution of hundreds of turkeys and additional food items to families in need throughout Macon County. This Thanksgiving initiative represents one component of a comprehensive community support system addressing both immediate needs and long-term economic development.
Lift Up With Purpose maintains a consistent, year-round commitment to community advancement beyond seasonal giving. The organization provides school supplies to students across Macon County, ensuring children in Montezuma and surrounding areas have necessary academic resources. During the holiday season, the nonprofit distributes Christmas toys, bikes, and gifts to brighten celebrations for local families. These efforts are complemented by ongoing support initiatives, charitable donations, and community upliftment programs designed to inspire confidence and opportunity.
The organization's mission focuses on empowering teens, young adults, and adults in under-served communities to build career success, develop entrepreneurial mindsets, and seize meaningful opportunities for personal and economic growth. Through his leadership, Collier has established Lift Up With Purpose as a beacon of hope that bridges opportunity gaps while strengthening families and encouraging bold dreaming among younger generations.
The partnership with local business Piggly Wiggly demonstrates how community organizations and businesses can unite for common purposes, creating measurable impact through both immediate relief and long-term inspiration. This collaborative model addresses critical needs while building sustainable community infrastructure.
Lift Up With Purpose addresses the significant challenge that millions of youth graduate from high school unequipped to succeed in the 21st-century workforce. The organization's work emphasizes not only assistance but empowerment, helping people build long-term skills, careers, and businesses that can transform their lives and communities. The organization's approach recognizes that when individuals receive proper tools, resources, and guidance, entire communities experience upliftment and economic improvement.
This community support model matters because it addresses both immediate humanitarian needs and systemic economic challenges. Food security during holidays prevents families from experiencing additional stress during traditionally celebratory periods, while educational and entrepreneurial support creates pathways out of poverty. The partnership approach between nonprofits and local businesses creates sustainable solutions that benefit the entire community economically and socially.
The impact extends beyond individual recipients to strengthen local economies through workforce development and business creation. By focusing on career pathways and entrepreneurial education, Lift Up With Purpose helps create future business owners and skilled workers who will contribute to Montezuma's economic vitality. This dual approach of meeting immediate needs while building long-term capacity represents an effective strategy for community transformation that could serve as a model for other rural communities facing similar challenges.
