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STANDARD, W.Va. — An eastern Kanawha County church is stepping up in a big way this holiday season to serve their neighbors, some who are older and can’t reach larger food pantries the city.
“A lot of people will not go to Charleston or South Charleston to pick up this food. They don’t have the transportation for it,” said Virginia McBrayer, a volunteer with the First Baptist Church of Standard food pantry.
The church is located in the small town of Standard. The food pantry, which was founded in 2016, serves about two dozen people each month, not just during the holiday season.
The need; however, has grown over the years, especially since March 2020 when many people lost their jobs. Phillip Smith, another church volunteer, said they’ve also seen a number of deaths in the community.
“We’ve had several elderly that has passed away. I believe we’re down, too, because of the virus,” he said.
The motivation to serve others has continued. McBrayer said smaller food pantries like theirs have a way of helping those who can’t help themselves.
“It means that we’re God’s hands. That’s how He’s feeding His people – the people who need it,” she said.
Much of the church’s food supply requires help from the community. McBrayer said a big donation came from students at nearby Pratt Elementary School who collected more than 5,000 cans of food this year.
“When you see all those cans of food, those kids brought those,” she said. “They tugged those on the school bus and brought them to their classroom and turned them in. I think that’s just amazing.”
The food pantry this year is providing items such as canned soup, vegetables, crackers, cereal, cake mix, cooking oil and even a Christmas ham for people who want to cook a holiday dinner.
Smith, who became visibly emotional, said the amount of lives they’ve been able to touch so far has been the most rewarding part of helping those in need.
“They’re just tickled to death,” he said wiping away tears.
“We have never had a need that has not been supplied. Never. Since 2016, during all the pandemic, during the recession, this little church has been right here with this food pantry,” McBrayer said.