JONESVILLE — The Potters House church in Jonesville set a record Saturday while commemorating the one-year anniversary of its food distribution program for people in need.

The program has continuously grown since the first Truck Load of Food event – held last October. According to Pastor Don Moore, the number of families receiving food on Saturday was in the 500’s range.

“That means well over 2,000 people,” Moore said.

Even with Saturday’s event being the third distribution at the Potters House this month, more than 40 new families had signed up for the program since the previous event. Moore said the expected amount of food to be given away – 40,000 pounds – was greatly surpassed.

Saturday’s food distribution event was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. with volunteers beginning to unload food at 6:30 a.m. According to volunteers, there were people in need of food arriving to line up as early as 4:30 a.m.

“When people start coming at 4:30 to wait until we open the door at 8:30, those are people really in need of something to eat,” Moore said.

Food distribution events at the Potters House usually finish around noon or 12:30 p.m., but Saturday’s event finished after 2 p.m.

Moore said he hopes to hold the events more often in the future, perhaps even on a weekly basis.

“It’s a far-reaching goal, but it could happen,” he said. “I look forward to continue to keep it going and see it get bigger.”

As the program grows, however, the already limited space of the Potters House continues to run out.

“We really need space,” Moore said. “We would like to find a building to go to, but we don’t have the money.”

The pastor said a larger space is needed for storage, food staging and food box preparation.

The next distribution was originally scheduled for Nov. 13 but will not be held due to construction at the church. The building was damaged by hail earlier this year causing a leak in the food storage building.

Because of the cancellation, families received extra food at Saturday’s distribution. Extra food will also be given away at the next distribution event, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 27.

Moore said he will also have several food boxes prepared for cases of emergency before the next distribution day.

For more information about the program, to donate food or to contribute funds to keep the distribution to those in need going, contact Moore at (864) 680-3465.