JONESVILLE — Pastor Don Moore understands that summer leads to people going on vacation, fixing things up around the house and yard and many other activities easier done in the sun than in the snow.

He gets that.

But what he also gets are phone calls daily from people in and around Union County who need help.

Some are trying to catch up with power bills from over the winter. Others might not even have any power at all.

No matter the case, they are calling Moore and the congregation at The Potters House in Jonesville because they need food.

That request is right up the pastor’s and church’s alley with the food bank they opened last October. Unfortunately, as summer continues funding for the food bank and the church’s monthly food distribution events — which have served several thousand people since beginning last fall — is declining just as Moore is expecting the demand for assistance to increase even more.

The pastor definitely appreciates the aid local businesses, organizations and individuals have given to the food bank and food distribution programs thus far. That assistance — which began rolling in shortly after the first food distribution event in October — has sustained the programs this long but now they need additional help.

“When it’s hot and sunny and sweaty, people still need something to eat,” Moore said.

He added the food programs at The Potters House will continue and everyone involved is trusting in the Lord to see it through. The pastor, the volunteers and the people the programs serve, however, are asking for the community’s help to continue to support the programs so many have used and still need.

One way to support the church and its food mission is by attending this weekend’s first-ever daylong food bank fundraiser event.

The event will be held at the church in Jonesville on Saturday, June 12, and all proceeds raised will go to the operation of the food bank and food distribution programs.

Moore encourages everyone to attend and participate to help raise money to continue feeding those in need throughout Union County.

Several events and activities are planned for the day, including a yard sale. Anyone who wants to donate items for the sale or bring items to the church to sell and then make a donation to the food bank is encouraged to do so.

A car wash will begin at 9 a.m. and grilled hot dogs and french fries will be served from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The playground and basketball courts also will be open all day. At 4 p.m., the church will begin serving spaghetti plates with salad and toast and grilled hamburger and hot dog plates until about 6 p.m.

Then the main attraction begins.

“At 6 p.m., the singing begins,” Moore said. “The Swansons will start things off and we want church choirs, gospel groups and individuals to come and sing for the people.”

The church is providing the sound system and anyone and everyone is welcome to come and sing or play gospel music. An offering will be taken during the music event to support the food bank and anyone who wants to participate needs to contact Moore at (864) 680-3465 as soon as possible to sign up.

The pastor said he already has at least eight music acts signed up and wants more to come aboard for this special event.

“I’m hoping to get several more signed up,” he said.

All proceeds from the day’s events — including the sale of yard sale items, food and any other donations — will go to supporting the food bank program.

“The money received for food goes to the food account and none of the money goes toward the church,” Moore said.

Those proceeds will be put to work right away this month as the church plans to move its monthly food distribution to a location in Union.

Moore didn’t have many details on Wednesday, but said plans are being worked out right now to hold the distribution day at a Union church. He is expecting this month to be one of the largest for the food bank as far as the number of people food is distributed to and hopes to have enough food to go around.

Moving the distribution event to Union also allows the food bank to reach people it might not already serve.

“This is going to give us the opportunity to sign up probably several hundred more families,” the pastor said.

Moore added he would release more information when it is available.

The pastor said the food bank and food distribution programs will weather the summer with the assistance of the community and all their other partners, including Second Harvest.

He encouraged people to get involved with the programs and said the church’s purpose in all of this remains the same as when the programs began last fall.

“It’s exciting to be able to help so many,” Moore said, adding he and his church know the economy isn’t getting better quickly. “We just want to get food into the hands of people who need it.”

Watch The Union Daily Times for more information on the June food distribution event slated to take place in Union.