JONESVILLE — “It was fantastic,” said The Potters House Pastor Don Moore. “It was just amazing.”

Moore and his small congregation in Jonesville couldn’t be happier with the response and turnout they received on the inaugural day for a food bank serving Union County residents on Saturday, Oct. 10.

The pastor said between 800-900 people, at least, came out to receive food assistance from the project the church has been planning for several months.

“Cars were lined up on both sides of the road,” Moore said. “They were lining up before I ever got there.”

He added vehicles were lined up for a half-mile or more and people started arriving at the church by 7 a.m. Saturday.

“It was wonderful,” Moore said.

He and volunteers who helped while the food bank was open 10 a.m.-noon didn’t get an exact count, but Moore said the program served more than 450 families that day.

People from several communities, including Pacolet, Whitmire, Lockhart, Union, Jonesville, Gaffney and Buffalo were expected to attend.

“There were people in wheelchairs, on crutches, old people, young people,” Moore said. “There were people from all stations in life.”

A number of people who came to the project’s inaugural event had just lost their jobs only a few months ago, according to Moore.

Every one of the nearly 500 families who preregistered for the food bank received food Saturday and the pastor reported the church even had some food left to place in the bank’s pantry.

There also were 10 people who came to the church Sunday who received food from the bank.

There were close to 40 people who volunteered to work at Saturday’s opening, helping box, bag and serve food. JBR of Spartanburg also donated the use of one of their semi-tractor trailers and a driver to haul the food.

It would have cost the church $500 for two days to rent a truck and that was without a driver.

Moore said the outpouring of support this first food bank event garnered was wonderful.

“I basically was, I guess the word would be, I was humbled,” Moore said about the experience. “It humbles me that I am able to be a part of helping so many people.”

He worked the lines of people somewhat like a politician Saturday, not only welcoming them to the food bank but encouraging them in their situations and talking with them as they came through to receive food.

He told the story of an older woman with a walker who he talked to as she waited in line.

“She just had tears in her eyes,” Moore said. “She said, ‘Preacher, I’ve got something to give you.’”

Moore immediately told the woman she didn’t have to give him or the church anything but she wouldn’t take “No” for an answer.

She reached inside her pocketbook and pulled out a stack of photos.

Bundled with those pictures was a $10 bill nearly worn in two because she had carried so long.

“I told her, ‘God bless you, but you keep it. You need it,’” Moore said.

But the woman still wouldn’t budge.

“She said she’d been saving it for a long time for a reason just like this,” Moore said. “I almost broke down right there.”

The pastor had several stories like that to share and said people who came for assistance also got in on helping others there.

Moore said several people took their food to their vehicles and then came back to volunteer their time to help dispense food.

People also began calling after Saturday’s event to update Moore and the church on how they were. Some of them reported back they were able to share what they were given with others who also needed help.

Moore and his congregation want the food bank to become a weekly event, but the pastor said another large-scale event probably won’t be held until December.

He doesn’t have a date yet, but plans to help families on a smaller scale each week while the church can.

They also registered an additional 50 people Friday afternoon and are now are accepting more.

Those families who register will continue to be served.

“Once they’re registered, they’re registered,” Moore said.

He and others hope to be in Pacolet this weekend to register people and also would like to be at the 2009 Union County Fair to do the same, but anyone who needs to register for the food bank can also give him a call.

Moore said before the food bank’s grand opening people had 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.

He and The Potters House congregation are determined to make the program work.

He also hopes any group, organization or person interested in getting involved will do so to make the food bank sustainable.

“We just want to help people,” Moore said.

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

Moore reported he’s already received a few calls from interested parties but would like even more to become part of the program’s mission.

“Any individuals, clubs, churches — it’s all about serving the people,” Moore said.

He added it doesn’t matter what type of support they offer, whether it’s collecting food to bring to The Potters House to distribute or having fundraisers to support the food bank, any and all help is appreciated.

“Just think, if all the churches around here wanted to give $20 or $25 a week, it wouldn’t take that much,” Moore said, adding any donations that come in will only be used for the food bank and the transportation to get the food to the people who need it.

Moore said before the food bank’s grand opening people had 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.

He and The Potters House congregation are determined to make the program work. He also hopes any group, organization or person interested in getting involved will do so to make the food bank sustainable.

“We just want to help people,” Moore said.