Volunteers handed out 14,000 pounds of food Tuesday, April 19, to families struggling with inflation and post-COVID underemployment.
The canned goods, dairy and meat were enough to feed 250 families, said Lesley Barnes, who oversees volunteers at the Macedonia Church of Grovetown, located at William Few Parkway and UN Court just west of Lewiston Road.
More than 100 cars rolled through the well-organized pickup line. It was the first food give away of the year for the 250-member church, Barnes said.
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“We do it because the Lord asked us to the hand and the feet,” Barnes said. “If people are hungry, feed them.”
Gwendolyn Jordon, of Grovetown, was grateful. The retiree is responsible for her daughter and three grandchildren. She thanked the volunteers and gave them advice about how to keep the church’s shrubbery alive.
“The food prices are just skyrocketing,” she said. “Gas prices and food prices have pretty much doubled.”
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Esaias Merritt, the church’s pastor, said his food give-away does not discriminate or even screen who receives the free food. He said all people of all races and all sexual persuasions are welcome.
His small congregation gets help from other churches, Farms to Families, the Golden Pantry and the Dollar General store.
“I believe we can all have a big impact if we focus on others,” Merritt said.
Joshua B. Good is a staff reporter covering Columbia County and military/veterans’ issues for The Augusta Press. Reach him at joshua@theaugustapress.com
