JONESVILLE — Pastor Don Moore was determined to arrive at The Potters House in Jonesville before anyone else on Saturday morning.

His attempt was to no avail.

“I got there at 6:30,” he said.

Waiting for him were 25 people already in line at the front of the church — no tables, no chairs, but determined to be the first to receive food as part of the second Truck Load of Food event.

“We had a massive turnout of people,” Moore said. “They just piled in and piled in and piled in.”

More than 1,000 people — equating to about 675 families — lined up Saturday at the church to receive a portion of more than 25,000 pounds of food the church had collected to give to those in need. According to Moore and volunteers for the event, the line stretched at least one-half mile.

Volunteers served more than 500 hot dogs, cake and chips and Bojangles provided about 35 gallons of tea. The church also got help from some new sources for the second event, receiving donated pallets of boxes from a company in Spartanburg and South Carolina Hunters and Landowners for the Hungry provided two truckloads of processed deer meat on top of the meat The Potters House already had to give away.

“Everybody got meat all day long,” Moore said. “Everybody got food that day.”

Most of those who received the benefits on Saturday had preregistered for the event, but Moore said some registered Saturday, calling them “good little soldiers” as they were the last in line to receive food.

“It amazes me still to have that many people and no complaints,” the pastor said about people waiting in line. “Everybody is just thankful.”

The first event was held Oct. 10 and served more than 400 families who needed assistance. Since then, Moore has worked to make the Truck Load of Food a constant to serve the people of Union County who need the help.

And he’s getting closer.

Several people have called him since Saturday’s event to offer their help and donations.

Moore had a call from the manager of Fresh Market in Spartanburg on Sunday offering to donate about 100 pounds of hamburger and possibly more a week for distribution. The manager also told the pastor not to worry about storing it — as the church is in need of another refrigerator and freezer to store meat and frozen products — because he had some extra space.

A minister from a Union church also called Moore to tell him the congregation wanted to bless the event and cause with a financial donation.

“Many people are coming with food and financial donations,” Moore said. “We’re getting a piece here and a piece there.”

And he and The Potters House already are working on the next installment of Truck Load of Food. There’s no date set in stone yet, but Moore hopes to shoot for next month again. He said if they can’t get enough to do a large event next month, he’d like to do a holiday meal for those in need and possibly get donated toys to give to children as part of an event like that.

There’s also enough food that he and the church will be able to give a few people help each week until it runs out.

“So we won’t be being idle,” Moore said.

He also is starting the application process to be associated with The United Way so the church can give those in need other items such as toilet paper, soap and other necessities on a weekly basis.

The second Truck Load of Food was a huge success and Moore only looks forward to it growing.

“It was a banner day,” he said, reemphasizing his efforts and those of his church are not about anything other than helping people in need. “Our only reward is seeing people smile and light up when they get their box of food.”

GET

REGISTERED:

n Pastor Don Moore of The Potters House in Jonesville said people still can register for Truck Load of Food. Plans already are in the works for a third installment. For more information or to register, call Moore at (864) 680-3465.