Feeding the multitudes

Crosspointe pantry fulfills a need

Crosspointe Church wants its cupboard bare.

The church in Nashville didn’t start a food pantry last week to see items sit on the shelves. Volunteers would rather wave goodbye to the food as it drives away in the cars of people who need it, said Pam Wood, food pantry coordinator.

“We got several phone calls just as a church to try and help people out. That is what we have done. We thought, ‘Here is a need.’ We can set up a food pantry, and we can at least give them a hot meal or groceries for a week,” said Wood of Red Oak.

The monthly pantry opened for the first time Saturday and distributed food to feed 87 people, including about seven shut-ins who had groceries brought to them, said the Rev. Melvin Barnette, senior pastor.

The food pantry will be open from 9 a.m. to noon the third Saturday of the month through the end of the year at the church, 969 Old White Oak Road. Next year, organizers plan to open it the first and third Saturday of every month.

The pantry was conceived to help the community, not to draw in new church members, Barnette said. Church members decided to not only talk about their faith but demonstrate it.

“If people are hungry, how can we tell them about the love of Christ? It is one thing to tell about God’s love, but when you show God’s love, it makes a big difference,” Barnette said.

The atmosphere among volunteers Saturday morning was upbeat as they arrived to fill dozens of grocery bags. The pantry opened at 9 a.m., and for the next few hours, cars pulled up to the church’s side door, where volunteers were working. Drivers never even had to step out of the car. While they filled out a basic questionnaire, volunteers rushed to put several bags in the vehicle.

Joan Auston of Nashville waited less than five minutes. Her sister-in-law stopped by the pantry earlier and then by Auston’s house to show her the groceries. When Auston saw the food, she borrowed her brother’s car and came herself.

Auston said she has been on disability for a year and receives food stamps. Paying bills can be a challenge, so when she heard about the pantry, she was excited.

“We just need it to help people struggling. Everybody struggles from day to day, but food pantries help a whole lot,” said Auston, 56.

People who came through to get food Saturday were very appreciative, volunteer Cindy Viverette said. The food the church offers is a drop in the bucket compared to some people’s needs, but sometimes, every little bit helps.

“There is a lot of need, and if we can help them, we want to help them. With people now, I think the embarrassment factor is long gone. Now, it is like, ‘I need this, so I am going to go,’” said Viverette of Rocky Mount.

The pantry is open to everyone who needs it, Barnette said. As tough as the economy has been, many families simply have had their finances stretched tight and need help.

That is what prompted Crosspointe to approach the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina in June about becoming a satellite pantry, Wood said. After the church was inspected and approved, Wood attended an orientation program and food handling class.

The regional food bank has more than 800 partner agencies in the 34 agencies it serves, including 40 in Nash and Edgecombe counties, said Allen Reep, vice president of development. These include churches, after-school programs, elder care facilities and YMCAs.

These agencies are the front line for the food bank, so every new partner is important, Reep said.

“Our agencies, now with the economic downturn, are reporting between 30 and 60 percent increases in need. The demographic is changing. ... People who used to contribute to the food bank now need help from the food bank. These are people who have been laid off, people who are losing their homes,” Reep said.

Crosspointe can get groceries from a food bank warehouse in Raleigh once a week, Barnette said. Some of the items are free, but most are for purchase at a low cost. The church set aside a $500 monthly budget for the pantry.

Running a pantry is a complicated process the organizers are still learning, Wood said. When they went on their first shopping trip Oct. 22 to warehouse, they could only get free items such as water, bread, rice, potatoes and certain refrigerated items. They didn’t realize the food bank only took checks, not cash or credit cards.

As the program grows, organizers want to expand what they offer, Barnette said. In the future, they want to buy meat and canned vegetables as well. Since the next two dates, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19, are before holidays, they want to offer more special items to help people celebrate.

Barnette also wants to have a supply of nonperishable food stocked at all times so if there is a need before the next designated Saturday, the church can help.

For details, call 462-0600.