Feeding the Community
Volunteers unload food parcels to be distributed at Port Royal UMC in South Carolina. (South Carolina Advocate Photo)
South Carolina Advocate | June 10, 2022
PORT ROYAL, S.C.—With the recent increase of inflation and higher prices at grocery stores and markets, Port Royal United Methodist Church began receiving more and more requests for food to feed families in their community.
The Second Helpings Agency provides heathy food grants to various churches and agencies throughout their county periodically. These grants allow for agency recipients to select items that will benefit and aid in their food distributions to those who are struggling. Fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy items, staples, cereals/grains, potatoes and condiment items are available. All orders are contracted via a food distribution company and are loaded into a semi-truck. A location then has to be secured for the items to be picked up.
Port Royal UMC offered its church parking lot as the drop-off point for these agencies and churches on May 26.
Church volunteers were on hand to separate the items, and the various agencies or churches in the community were able to come and pick them up.
This worked out so well, the church said, and there was plenty of room for the unloading, as well as parking.
Port Royal’s pastor, the Rev. Ann Bridgers, is passionate about the church’s own food ministry and is always eager to help and assist others in our community in any way possible. Port Royal UMC’s food ministry runs every Friday and serves close to 145 families each week. Bridgers said this participation with this grant program gave their church another opportunity to serve and assist those in need.
Church volunteers said they saw the opportunity as a way to further their outreach to others and show God’s love to their community partners.
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