Charles Warner|Daily Times Rev. Keith Morrison of First Presbyterian Church reads from the Bible during a devotional at the church's food distribution event Thursday morning. The church, which distributes food to the needy of Union County twice a month, begins each distribution with a devotional that includes scripture reading, a message by Morrison based on the scripture, and prayer.

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Kathy Sinclair, a volunteer at First Presbyterian Church's food distribution event Thursday morning, prepares to place some packets of frozen meat in the boxes that were distributed to needy individuals and families.

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Jim Vaughan, volunteer and member of First Presbyterian Church, helps Linda Hall fill out the paperwork she needs to receive a voucher to get a box of food from the church's food ministry.

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Some of the recipients of food distributed by First Presbyterian Church wait for the distribution to begin Thursday morning.

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UNION — A message about angels and how anyone can be an angel opened Thursday’s food distribution event at First Presbyterian Church.

First Presbyterian Church, 101 W. South St., Union, distributes food to needy individuals and families the second and fourth Thursdays each month. Each distribution is opened with a devotional by the church’s pastor, Rev. Keith Morrison, whose message Thursday was about angels. Morrison told those present that he’d personally met angels who he identified as the members and volunteers of The Potters Storehouse, the Jonesville church that operates a food ministry that not only supplies First Presbyterian with the food it distributes, but also feeds thousands of people each month.

Morrison pointed out that the church members and other volunteers who operate The Potters Storehouse food ministry do so without any reward other than knowing that they are serving God by serving those in need.

“In my mind they are angels,” Morrison said. “They don’t have to do this, they do it to serve the Lord. That’s what angels do.”

While The Potters Storehouse provides First Presbyterian with the food it distributes, Morrison said First Presbyterian has supported The Potters Storehouse financially. Recently, The Potters Storehouse was in danger of having its electricity cut off and Morrison said that when he heard this he sought to raise funds to help prevent that. He said a total of $500 was quickly raised by First Presbyterian with contributions coming not only from church members but from many of those it serves through its food ministry.

“There were angels at work,” Morrison said of that day.

Morrison said anyone who serves God by serving others can be an angel.

“We can all be angels when we act on behalf of the Lord,” Morrison said.

Some of those angels were at work at First Presbyterian Thursday morning, as church members and other volunteers helped people apply for vouchers to receive the food distributed by the church, handed out those vouchers, and prepared boxes filled with an assortment of food for distribution. Morrison said the church distributed 45 boxes of food Thursday, more than the 35-40 it distributes on average. He said the need for First Presbyterian’s food ministry has increased since school let out for summer and children who previously received at least part of their meals at school are no longer getting them.

For more information about First Presbyterian’s food ministry call 864-427-8319.

Editor Charles Warner can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 14, or by email at cwarner@civitasmedia.com.