Bible Hill Baptist Church is a small county church that has enjoyed over 150 years in the Parsons, TN community. Before starting their own food giveaway, volunteers from Bible Hill helped a local food pantry in town by assisting with their transportation needs whenever their Second Harvest deliveries were scheduled. After volunteering for a while, members of Bible Hill felt it was time to open their own pantry, as well.
In February 2014, Bible Hill began their feeding programs. They opened their doors to an emergency food pantry, planned weekly perishable giveaways, and provided home deliveries to sick and shut-ins. Thanks to the financial support of the congregation, the feeding programs are able to sustain themselves and provide upwards of 500 people a month with food. Other ministries in town collaborate, too. Amazing Grace Ministries lovingly lends their parking lot for the Second Harvest trucks to use, St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist splits the service area and distributes perishables to Parsons residents as well, and multiple churches provide volunteers.
Each week, as the list of people in need grows, there is the typical worry that there won’t be enough food. However, through the help of Agency Relations Managers, Donna Vick and Vivian Bowen, extra shipments of perishables were arranged to be delivered to Parsons throughout each month. Blessings continue to flow as volunteers and clients congregate. Everyone is delighted to have the fellowship of seeing each other. Pastor Danny Ray even jokes, “My wife has received more hugs in the last two years from clients than she has ever received from me in our retire marriage!” Homebound seniors are often reduced to choosing between food, medicine, and funeral expenses; but look forward to the company almost as much as the food through Bible Hill’s home delivery program. “There is a good feeling about helping someone unconditionally,” adds Ray.
Future plans for Bible Hill include the addition of Hispanic Worship Services to accommodate the growing Hispanic population and building an awning between their pantry and pavilion to shelter volunteers and clients during inclement weather. Second Harvest is so proud to partner with agencies like Bible Hill Baptist church and support the work they do to fight hunger in their community!
