Page 15 - Harnett Life Fall 2018

Ellen Jones and Gray Barnhill with CU Ignite Hope Freeman with CU Ignite Ministry, Hana Carroll &
mother Donna Carroll with Union United Methodist in
Lillington

needed them. “Our goal was just to do a collective minis- about 5 of us who take out plates and we’re serving at least
try, but limited by space, we have not done anything but the 60 people in that way.”
[weekly] meal and groceries.” Penny said there were coats
and clothes donated and given out, but there was nowhere Since the Ministry is a non–profit, reporting their numbers
to store the clothing that didn’t immediately go out, and the to the state, to the food bank is essential; Penny said they
Ministry is only able to provide groceries once per month, report how many families are fed, and the current average
cut down from once per week. is approximately 65 – 68 families who receive groceries
from the Ministry, approximately 60 hot meals delivered,
Despite having only enough resources to provide groceries and “usually 80 – 100 that come in to eat.”
once a month, and one hot meal every week, it turns out
that the Ministry itself is only responsible for serving the Families who receive grocery donations may often be
meal once per month, and said the schedule booked out faced with the challenge of choosing between buying gro-
through December. Penny said she is responsible for the ceries or paying for monthly medications, and if the latter
scheduling, while Allen and Tyndall are responsible for the wins out, a limited income only stretches so far. For now,
cooking. The hot meal is served at Coats Senior Center ev- one of the volunteer’s sorts and packages the groceries into
ery Tuesday evening from approximately 5:00 pm – 6:30 individual bags containing the same or very similar items
pm. for each family. Penny said another one of their long-range
goals in regards to providing groceries is to “To have a
Come January 1st, Penny will be contacting all the groups building of our own so we could have shelves, that they
presently involved to find out if they would like to con- could go through and get the items they want” but again,
tinue volunteering in their current time slot each month. due to limited space, this is not yet possible.
She said the Ministry “would love for new people to start
up” because the Ministry’s hope is that the new volunteers She said Prospect FWB Church comes once per month to
would be able to see how they can start a similar program serve the weekly meal, but also donates canned vegetables
within their own area. Penny said it takes a lot of people, – a year’s supply, in fact – as a part of the ministry within
and although she stresses how much teamwork and effort their church. Other churches involved include Coats Bap-
is involved in making this program happen, she said “It’s tist (who Penny said has been involved with the Ministry
catching, and that’s another reason we like to have a vari- since its beginning), Coats United Methodist, South Erwin
ety of people volunteering, so they can see it will work.” Baptist, Hodges Chapel, Union United Methodist Church,
Blackmon’s Grove Baptist, and Pleasant Memory Baptist.
She said right now, the only way the Ministry can help is “The fellowship is like family coming together every Tues-
providing food – “We just do what we can to help the com- day night” and said they see new people every week. “We
munity, and ‘Give a hot meal’ is the first thing.” Penny said don’t want this to be tied to one denomination, because this
the “biggest addition this year is that we deliver plates to is truly a community effort.”
shut ins, the elderly who will not drive at night…there are Page 15