The outcome of Saturday’s food distribution was unsure at the beginning of last week as pastor Don Moore took stock of what the church’s food bank had to offer the many hungry mouths of Union County. Moore was concerned last Monday with just four days to go until volunteers were expected to be at the church to stuff boxes for those in need.
About that time he received a phone call from the Dollar General in Monarch.
Moore was informed the store had 30 large — completely full — boxes of canned goods, cereals, snacks, etc. it wanted to donate to the church for its food distribution.
“Just exactly what we needed,” the pastor said.
His concern began to ease.
When he arrived at the store to pick up the donation, however, that ease became thanks as he learned local community members — store customers — also had pitched in to help the church’s food bank by bringing food and donating it to Dollar General one can or box at a time.
“On Saturday, well over 1,000 people were able to have some food and other necessities from the United Way Gifts in Kind Program — toilet paper, paper towels, soap, toothpaste, makeup, personal items and, for the mothers, Pampers for the little ones,” Moore said.
Feeding the masses wouldn’t have been possible this month without the help of those concerned citizens and businesses.
“It was very encouraging to find out that so many people care and are willing to help one another at times like these,” Moore said.
The Dollar General store in Monarch is one of the latest in a string of the discount retailer’s stores that have helped The Potters House in its endeavors to feed those in need of assistance through its food bank and food distribution events.
Moore said several Dollar Generals have previously donated and thanked all of them for their generosity and extended gratitude to all those store managers and employees who worked to box up all the donated food. He also said thank you to everyone who donated to this latest food distribution day, including Tanglewood Missionary Baptist Church.
The Potters House began its food bank and food distribution events back in October and has since given out several thousands of pounds of food to people in need of food assistance from around Union County. The church is committed to doing its part in feeding the hungry of the community and Moore expects the number of people in need to continue to rise.
The food bank and distribution events need the support of the community and Moore is asking anyone interested in donating — in whatever way they can, whether it’s food or monetary — to get in touch with him.
He hopes to have some good news to share very soon concerning Second Harvest — the organization that helped get the Jonesville food bank off the ground with its first truck load of food back last fall — and will be releasing details about a large upcoming fundraiser the church is planning to help provide for those in need through the summer months.
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