Your Giving in Action

Sep 11, 2024 | News, Reported in the E-Vision

Your regular contribution to the budget (your tithe) makes ministries of First Baptist possible. We highlight these ministries once a month throughout the year.

Give Generously and Serve Passionately by Supporting Five Loaves & Two Fish

The robust, comunity-supported and vital ministry that is Five Loaves and Two Fish food pantry (FLTF) looks very different today than it did back in 1989, when it opened in a closet at St. George’s Episcopal Church. Over the years, many Christian groups stepped in to support the pantry, which also provided a health clinic and soup kitchen. When the health clinic was sold, FLTF became a non-profit (5013c charitable organization) and continued to focus on serving the residents of Spalding County, as well as those in neighboring counties. Located at 412 W. Slaton Ave., the organization serves between 1,000 and 1,200 clients monthly—a number that ranks them 4th largest in the state. For perspective, last year FLTF gave out over 50,000 pounds of food.

First Baptist Griffin became involved in FLTF when Brian and Joyce McCartney started Missions in Motion in 2004. The purpose of this team was to get FBC involved in the community. They were instrumental in building relationships between FBC and the food pantry and soup kitchen. Two other notable endeavors that came out of this initiative included our role in the Spalding Samaritans and a tutoring ministry in a local housing project. Thanks to these efforts, FBC took on the role of volunteering at FLTF on the first Saturday of every month and has been faithful in that role these past 20 years. Gail Hammock originally served on the Board of Directors and as a Coordinator. Bobby Adams, Becky Mozo-Adams, Nancy Bythewood and others have also served as coordinators. For at least 15 years, Gail has coordinated the FBC volunteers who staff the food pantry completely every first Saturday. Some of our volunteers —Belinda Shaw, Jackie Lee, Jackie Branden and others — also work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

FLTF gets support from individuals throughout our community, but they also receive shipments from the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Lately, the shipments from the Atlanta Food Bank have been reduced, which means that FLTF depends on the local community more than ever to meet the growing needs. FLTF has traditionally given 5 bags of groceries per month to any client requesting assistance. Should an additional need arise, our FBC Benevolence Team can provide FLTF clients with food vouchers, which means that Benevolence will cover the cost of extra food for the pantry to provide it to those clients. This arrangement prevents our Benevolence Team from having to store food and supports our community partner’s efforts. 

FBC has been stepping up to the challenge by providing dry goods and nonperishables in the past weeks to help compensate for the reduction in what has come from the Atlanta Food Bank. Benevolence sends monetary support to FLTF monthly, as well.  Ultimately, through this partnership, we can provide more food to the pantry by giving money (through our Benevolence Ministry) than we could if we were to buy groceries ourselves at the store and deliver them. 

Families who receive help at FLTF have presented basic identification and have declared that they have a need. These people can receive fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as nonperishable goods. Our own community garden has been a tremendous help in providing fresh produce over the past few years. Because of the generosity of those who give to Benevolence and who donate to FLTF directly, needy individuals can also receive socks and toiletries. Often, Sunday School classes, ministry teams, and even small groups can take on these donation projects to benefit FLTF. 

In Matthew 25:31-40, we read about the final judgment, when Jesus will invite those on his right hand to inherit the Kingdom of God because they ministered to him when he needed them. When the righeous ask Jesus, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?” Jesus replies, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”  When you give to the FBC regular budget, your money is being put to use directly in your community. You are helping to feed those who are hungry. When you volunteer your time to serve in the FLTF food pantry, you are helping to feed others in need. Thank you for being a generous giver. 

Many thanks are due to Gail Hammock for providing the content of this story.

 

If you would like to read more about how your budget contributions support the many vibrant ministries at First Baptist, then we invite you to read other articles in this series, listed below.

The Giving in Action series is featured in the E-Vision monthly.