First Baptist Church of Fort Worth members distribute food, toiletries to needy

http://www.star-telegram.com/
Posted Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010
By Susan McFarland
Special to the Star-Telegram



HALTOM CITY -- Wearing blue church T-shirts and smiles, an assembly line of about 50 volunteers in Haltom City distributed food, water and toiletries to 400 families in need.

The volunteers braving the heat Sunday were members of First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, in partnership with Feed the Children.

Feed the Children, founded in 1979, is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization headquartered in Oklahoma City.

"We want to give back to the community and touch lives in a more practical way," Pastor Don Wills said. "The Lord has blessed us, both financially and with those giving of themselves, to make this happen."

Some families came two or three hours early to get in line at John Spicer Elementary School. Church members loaded the vehicles drive-through-style.

The church paid $8,300 for a Feed the Children driver and tractor-trailer stocked with enough food to feed the families for a week.

Families also received a case of water and a box filled with toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste and other household items.

Church members advertised on a local Christian radio station and passed out information at area schools and the Haltom City Senior Center.

Wills said no proof of income was required.

"If they have a sense they need it, they can come," Wills said.

Jo Ann Williams and her husband, John Williams, of Haltom City were one of the first families in line. The couple heard about the event at their senior citizen center.

"The money we get from Social Security just doesn't stretch," Jo Ann Williams said. "By the time we pay utilities, car payments, insurance and everything else, there is no money left."

Church member Melissa Carrell said that each time church members hold such an event, they learn ways to make delivery go more smoothly.

"We learned last year the assembly line works so much better," Carrell said.

Executive Pastor Dave Rutherford said that the church has access to forklifts but that it would rather more people get involved.

"The assembly line builds camaraderie," he said. "It's a fellowship for us as we serve our community."

Rutherford said that Sunday was the third time that the church has partnered with Feed the Children for such an event.

In the future, the church hopes to reach more people by distributing two or three truckloads of goods at a time, he said.


Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NIV