Snow Hill Baptist Church carries on 20 year mission to feed the needy

October 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

For more than 20 years the Snow Hill Baptist Church has been feeding the community with boxes of food every other Sunday in conjunction with Second Harvest.

Due to COVID-19, the church currently conducts the food ministry in drive thru fashion rather than in-house. Persons needing a box of food simply line up in their automobiles on Snow Hill Road and into the church driveway and begin filing through once the distribution begins.

“We have a drive up every other Sunday and it starts at 1:30 p.m.,” said Pastor Todd Pack. “We get the food through Second Harvest. We pick it up on Thursday at the Farmers Market location and then we bring it in and pack the boxes right before we give them away. Starting at 1:30 p.m. they begin filtering through and we give out food boxes until the last one is gone,” said Pack.

Each box contains whatever the church can get through Second Harvest including breads, vegetables, fruits, desserts, and sometimes milk and frozen meats.

No income limits are required but those being served are asked to sign up as per Second Harvest guidelines.

Patty Hale, member of the church, said the food ministry has been a labor of love for the congregation for more than two decades.

“This is a ministry our former pastor Steve Puckett started. He had brought this from the church where he previously attended before becoming our pastor. We were one of the first food ministries we know of in DeKalb County and we’ve been doing it now for over 20 years,” said Hale.

After the COVID pandemic, the church plans to return to distributing the food from inside the church where those being served come in and attend a brief church service before leaving with their food boxes.

Because of the popularity of the food ministry, the church has seen people from throughout the community come through at one time or another and even from outside the county. “ The last one two weeks ago we probably had about 60 cars come through,” said Pack.

“We have had some from Warren County and even from Watertown come in before,” added Hale.

If you would like to support the Snow Hill Baptist Church food ministry or volunteer call Patty Hale at 615-464-7492 and leave a message or call Ronnie and Judy Redmon at 615-597-6240.

The next drive thru distribution is set for Sunday, November 1 at 1:30 p.m.

“Our mission through this food ministry is to be the hands and feet of Christ,” said Pastor Pack

October 19, 2020
By: Bill Conger

Some people say their golf game is downright scary. So, they would fit right in this Halloween at the Haven of Hope Golf Tournament. Cost to enter is $60 per person or $240 per team.

“All that money is helping to pay for what we do here,” said former Haven of Hope Executive Director John Quintero. “Even if somebody does not have money, we try our best to at least get emergency help to them. We feel good about the ministry we’re doing, and we think it will be money well spent.”

Lunch begins at 11 o’clock Saturday, October 31 followed by the Scramble at 12:00 noon at River Watch Country Club. You may register for the tournament online at www.havenofhopetn.org/golf-tournament or call (615) 597-4673. There will be tier winners, hole prizes, door prizes, and a $1,000 Hole in One prize. Spots are still available for hole sponsors at a cost of $125. For those who don’t golf, The Haven will also be pleased to accept donations.

Haven of Hope is a non-profit community mental health agency. Its mission is to provide individual, family and/or group counseling, classes and programs that have the potential to enhance the clients’ lives, their family and the community.

October 18, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Three local churches are hosting food giveaways.

Snow Hill Baptist Church will have a drive thru food pick up on Sunday, October 18th at 1:30 p.m.. Please line up on the East side of the Church and drive around. Someone will put the food in your car. Stay inside your car; no restrooms will be available. Services are at 10:00 each Sunday morning. Everyone is welcome. Todd Pack is the Pastor.

Meanwhile the Smithville AG Harvest Food Giveaway will be Saturday, October 24 from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. The drive thru pick-up is located in the rear of the church. Anyone is welcome to come and receive fresh food, produce, meats, and dairy all packaged together while supplies last.

The Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church is again sponsoring a drive thru mobile food pantry on Saturday, October 31 from 9 a.m. until noon rain or shine.

The church plans to prepare enough food boxes to serve up to 300 families regardless of their income status, on a first come, first served basis.

Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the food will be distributed starting at 9:00 a.m. Unlike most food distributions, those being served by the mobile pantry will not have to get out of their automobiles. They will drive thru in a pickup line and volunteers will deliver the food directly to their vehicles, placing the food boxes either in the back seat or trunk. Cars will line up facing north on College Street across from the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

“We will line up right across from the church (Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church) on College Street. We’ll start registration at 8:00 a.m. We’ll need the name of the recipients and how many families are being served. We’re limited to two families per vehicle to make sure we have enough food,” added Isaac Gray, Minister of the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Others who wish to volunteer may show up Saturday, October 31 or call for more information at 615-684-5307.