Tina Clark, Mark Cannady, Katsy Cannady, and Frances Plyler Hundreds of members of Shandon Baptist and Northside Baptist Churches gathered outside grocery stores in Richland and Lexington counties March 27 to participate in the Second Annual Food From the Heart food drive. Fifty tons of food and non–perishable items were collected by the volunteers to benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia, SC.

The donations will be distributed to local food pantries and soup kitchens. One hundred percent of all goods collected will benefit men, women, and children in the Midlands.

Pastor Steve Allen of Northside Baptist Church said, “Northside is proud to be a part of the community outreach to help those families who have fallen on hard times and are in need of hope. In fact, all the food collected at this food drive will be used to provide support to local rescue missions, outreaches, and food banks and soup kitchens already positioned to lend a helping hand.”

Rendy Colby and Rev. Scott Crede According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), South Carolina has the 5th largest hunger population in the country. As high levels of unemployment continue to affect so many in our state, there is a huge demand for food and services from organizations such as Harvest Hope Food Bank.

In 2008, Harvest Hope Food Bank served 1,291,228 individuals throughout its 20 county service area, and in 2009 that number increased by 145% to 3,158,487 individuals. The organization reports that one in four children under the age of five in our state goes to bed hungry every night.

The volunteers from both Shandon Baptist Church and Northside Baptist Church reported there were individuals who donated food for others even as they are in need. A volunteer from Shandon Baptist Church said, “People are helping who might even need the services. People say they have been to Harvest Hope themselves, yet they are still donating.”

John Bailey, Wayne Portwood, and Bobby Eleazer Jerry Long, Missions Pastor at Shandon Baptist Church said, “Shandon’s participation in the Food From the Heart food drive in 2009, and again this year, has been one of the most rewarding ministry projects Shandon has ever undertaken. The hunger problem in the Midlands is greater than ever. It is very satisfying to know that several hundred Shandon volunteers have joined with thousands of Richland county residents to provide food for the hungry. We want people to know the love of Jesus, and we want people to know that Shandon cares.”