The bad news: The February food distribution date for the church’s food bank has been changed to Saturday, Feb. 27.
The good news: The Potters House is now a member of the United Way’s Gifts in Kind Program.
Moore reported Tuesday the date for the next Truck Load of Food event was changed to the last Saturday in February from its original date of Saturday, Feb. 20, because of bad weather.
“Due to inclement weather, deliveries to Second Harvest have been delayed, necessitating the date change,” he said.
Second Harvest is the food bank agency the Jonesville church receives food from for its Union County distribution events.
The change in date will allow anyone who has yet to register to receive food from the church’s food bank to do so. Moore said the church has more than 900 families registered in and around Union County needing food.
“It’s not going to be long until we get to 1,000,” the pastor said.
Since beginning the food distribution events in October last year the church has served more than 1,000 people through the food bank.
The good news Moore reported on Monday will allow the church to now give those who come for food assistance a little more.
Through the United Way’s Gifts in Kind Program, The Potters House will be able to include items like toilet paper, paper towels, diapers and many others it can get through that program.
“We will have access to toilet paper, paper towels, Pampers, cosmetics, soaps and many other items which will be given out with food,” Moore said. “There’s all kinds of things up there.”
The church is able to go each week to select items for distribution in Union County and Moore is excited about having the extra capacity to serve those in need even more.
“It’s going to work out really good,” he said.
While Second Harvest is delaying deliveries because of the weather and the food distribution date has been changed, it’s a bit of good news for the church as well.
At the beginning of this month, Moore reported high demand on Second Harvest would hinder The Potters House from getting food from the agency.
But he found out last week the food bank organization would have a full truck load of food in time for the original Feb. 20 distribution day.
“I found out last Wednesday I was supposed to be able to have it for this week,” Moore said.
Then the winter storm struck the Upstate and western North Carolina on Friday and Saturday and Second Harvest called Moore over the weekend to tell him while the food is still available to the church it wouldn’t be ready until later.
Moore was OK with that — he was just glad to be able to get food from the organization.
The church found a way to purchase food for the upcoming distribution day at a discounted rate, but the pastor said any assistance is appreciated. After his call for help earlier this month, the church was able to purchase some food and had a good response but it still wasn’t enough.
So the call from Second Harvest was a blessing.
“I was excited to know we could get it,” Moore said.
He’s still asking all who can help — churches, schools, clubs and individuals — to do so by donating food, nonperishable items or funds. Any money donated to the food bank project is deposited into the food bank account at First Citizens Bank in Jonesville.
Moore said the need in Union County isn’t going away.
“The need is massive among the people of Union County,” he said at the beginning of February. “And we are still getting new registrations on a regular basis.”
Moore receives phone calls daily from people in desperate need of food and other essentials.
Anyone who needs the food bank’s assistance — who hasn’t already done so — can also still register for help. Since the distribution date has been changed, people now can register Thursday, Feb. 18, from 2-5 p.m. at the church and also Friday, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the church.
Those who would like to volunteer their time and services to The Potters House also are encouraged to do so. Moore said the church will be packing boxes for the Feb. 27 distribution day 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 26.
“Volunteers are needed all day Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until we are finished,” Moore said. “We also need office help for registrations.”
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