A Jonesville church is forming a food bank to help ease hunger pains in Union County and the surrounding areas.

Pastor Don Moore and the congregation of The Potter’s House plan to have the food bank open for the first time on Oct. 10. Food will be distributed that day from 9:30 a.m. until noon. A tractor trailer load of food will be distributed including canned goods, frozen meats and other staple grocery items.

All of the food is fresh and in date; the majority of the food will be acquired from Second Harvest Distribution Center, Moore said.

Those who want to receive food must preregister with basic information, including name, address, date of birth and annual income. Preregistration will be held at the Jonesville Town Festival Saturday at the church tent from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. There will be other opportunities to preregister at the Potters House as well as some locations in Union. For larger groups, arrangements can be made for a representative of Potter’s House to come to them.

“We at the Potter’s House realize the need for food is great at this time and will do our very best to keep this food ministry going,” Moore said. “We will accept help and donations from individuals, churches, clubs, etc. to offset the expenses associated with acquiring and transporting the food from Charlotte to Jonesville. We also need a large refrigerator or two and two or three freezers. If the need appears to be great enough, we will start out hopefully on a biweekly basis and soon afterwards on a weekly basis.”

For those who do not preregister, food will be available until it runs out, but registration must be completed that day. Those who preregister will only have to sign in and will receive a voucher on distribution day. Those who preregister are guaranteed food on Oct. 10. Moore said the application form requires only minutes to complete.

(Those wanting more information may call (864) 673-9025 or Moore at (864) 680-3465. The Potter’s House is located on Highway 18 in Jonesville, take a right at the first traffic light, cross the overhead bridge and it is located 3/4 of a mile on the right and is marked by a large cross.)