Shady Grove Baptist Church Relocates Food Ministry to Serve the Community

3:06 PM EST |January 7, 2025|Lauren Ramsey|News Articles, Religion-Spiritual-Cryptid,

By: Lauren Ramsey – Wise News Network

Cherryville, NC (WNN)—Located at 3240 Tryon Courthouse Road, Shady Grove Baptist Church’s food ministry has been a lifeline for the local community since 2016. The ministry relocated to the Shady Grove Church Campus, improving its ability to feed needy families, especially seniors. With a mission rooted in compassion, the ministry has made it their goal to support individuals who are struggling, particularly the elderly, who often face tough decisions between buying food or medication.

The Church Food Ministry Sign. January 7th, 2025 by: Lauren Ramsey (WNN)

A New Location for Greater Impact

The food ministry initially operated from a location on Tryon Courthouse Road, a property gifted to the church. For six months, the church members packed food boxes entirely on their own before partnering with Second Harvest of Charlotte, which now supplies a substantial portion of the ministry’s food.

Refocusing on Food Distribution

Although the ministry was once involved in clothing distribution, the focus has since narrowed strictly to food distribution after relocating to their church campus. According to Mary Beth Buchanan, a church member who oversees the ministry, this allows them to meet the growing needs of families more effectively.

A Mission to Help Seniors

“We decided to go strictly with the food program now,” said Buchanan. “Our mission is to help needy families, especially our seniors. It’s tough for them—they often have to choose between groceries or their medicine, and we want to relieve that burden.”

Supporting Seniors with Specialized Boxes

The senior boxes are designed specifically for individuals aged 60 and older, and applicants must qualify based on income requirements. These pre-packaged boxes, supplied by Second Harvest and distributed on the third Tuesday of every month, contain essential food items to help seniors make ends meet.

The Packed Food Boxes Given to Individuals In Need. January 7th, 2025. By: Lauren Ramsey (WNN)

Streamlined Application Process

To receive food from the ministry, individuals must complete an application and meet certain income criteria. Additionally, the application process has been streamlined electronically, making it easier for families to apply and for the church to track who qualifies. “Everything’s done electronically now, so it’s efficient, but we do remind everyone to bring their IDs,” said Buchanan.

The Household Gross Income Needed To Qualify. January 7th, 2025. By: Lauren Ramsey (WNN)

Mission Continues to Grow

Despite the move, the ministry’s mission has stayed the same, and its numbers continue to grow. “We’ve seen an increase in the number of people we serve,” added Buchanan. “And we’re exploring the possibility of adding a third program that would bring in even more food through Second Harvest of Charlotte.”

Food Ministry Hours and Contact Information

The food ministry operates every Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Shady Grove Baptist Church. For more information, you can call the ministry at 704-729-6698.

WNN©

For more WNN video news stories, visit YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wisenewsnetwork

For more WNN articles and news stories, visit: https://wisenewsnetwork.com

Contact WNN at [email protected]