JONESVILLE — It’s amazing how a simple drive around town can lead to a greater purpose.

That’s exactly what happened to the small congregation of The Potters House in Jonesville that is opening a new food bank for Union County residents in need on Saturday, Oct. 10.

“We knew the need was there,” said Pastor Don Moore.

He and church members just didn’t know to what extent their community needed food assistance.

It wasn’t until a member of the congregation returned from driving the church van around Jonesville to ask children if they would like a ride to check out the church’s new playground that it really came into focus.

Moore explained the driver returned and told a story of some mothers asking if the church could feed their children because they were unable to.

Fast forward a little and now the upcoming opening of the new food bank is expected to be a great success.

Moore said the first day for the service is shaping up to be huge. He and the church already expect a crowd of at least 500-700 people and the response has been overwhelming. It could grow to nearly 1,000 depending on how many accompany the family members coming to receive food.

“As of Tuesday, we have over 400 families signed up,” Moore said.

Families from Pacolet, Whitmire, Lockhart, Union, Jonesville, Gaffney, Buffalo and other areas are expected to be at the grand opening event.

And Moore wants people to be sure this service is geared only to helping those families in need.

“It’s not us doing this to try and build church membership,” he said. “We’re doing this to help the people of the community.”

Moore added people have attempted to bring this type of program to Union County for some time. Talks of creating a food bank in the county started even before he became pastor at The Potters House six years ago.

Now that the church is starting the program, not only are those involved excited but the program it is purchasing the food to be donated from—Second Harvest—is equally as enthused.

“The Second Harvest people are excited we’re going to try to do this,” Moore said.

Food will be distributed Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon at the church one-half mile to the north of the stop light in Jonesville on Highway 18. Vouchers for each of the families registered will be handed out starting at 9 a.m. Moore said the products to be given are nothing but the best.

“All of this food is first quality,” he said.

Other items donated by local groups like Men of Action of Jonesville — including cleaning supplies and other non-food items — will also be given to as many families as supplies will make available.

The church will serve hot dogs and drinks free of charge beginning at 11 a.m. and Moore said there will be 200-300 hot dogs available. Bojangles of Union will serve coffee beginning at 9 a.m. and there also will be the church playground and other entertainment to keep the kids occupied.

For a congregation of only about 20 people, plus Moore, this seems like a daunting task but The Potters House is committed to the success of the new program.

“We’re determined to make this thing work,” Moore said, adding its his ambition to eventually get the entire county involved in the project.

The future of the program depends on the support it gets.

Moore said the food bank probably will be open again two weeks from the inaugural day on Saturday, but further out the success depends on two factors.

“What it really boils down to is how many people need this,” he said. “We’re hoping to be able to do this on a regular basis. Our goal is to get where we can do this on a weekly basis.”

Volunteers will help gauge the level of need on Saturday to assist in determining how often the food bank needs to be open at first.

The other factor comes down to outside support.

The church purchases the bulk of the food for the bank from Second Harvest — produce items are at no charge — so donations will be key to maintaining the program.

Moore encouraged any groups, organizations or individuals who would like to donate funds to the food bank to get involved. They also are in need of items such as freezers and refrigerators to store the food. Other donations — such as non-food items — also are welcome.

He’s hoping the sheer volume of people at the church Saturday will show just how much need is out there.

“Hopefully all those people driving by the church and seeing all those people who will be there will grasp the need,” Moore said.

He also has faith the food bank will be around to stay and said it’s by the grace of God this new mission is possible.

“For a church congregation at 20 people, it’s amazing that God can see us through to start this,” Moore said.