People lined up out the door and onto the sidewalk Wednesday at Minford Church of the Nazarene as the church’s food ministry provided much-needed groceries for area families.

“We have a church group here called The Amazing Grays, which are adults 55 and over, and we have joined with the Potter’s House to have a mobile food pantry here today,” church member Barbara Clark said. “We are serving 110 families that already have coupons. Any food that is left over, we do have extra names, and we will give out all the food until it’s completely gone.”

Each family received 50 pounds of food, including a variety of canned and boxed items, such as pasta and cereal, as well as juices, meats and breads.

“We were fortunate enough today because we have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, including potatoes and things like that,” Clark said. “It’s a lot of staple foods, and fresh foods also for a family.”

Clark said there is an income guideline they follow for eligibility, and they have found most people qualify for the free food.

Clark said it was the third time the group had scheduled the mobile food pantry, and they hope to schedule many more. The food is purchased from the Free Store Food Bank in Cincinnati, although sometimes it comes from Columbus. The food is donated to the Food Bank by major grocery chains.

“Our club has raised $500 every time we we do one of these giveaways, and that gives us the option of feeding at least 100 families,” Clark said. “So, for $5 we can give a family 50 pounds of food. And you can’t get that anywhere else, praise the Lord.”

FRANK LEWIS may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.