Grovetown Food Pantry Feeds 225,000 People Since 2020

A Grovetown nonprofit has fed more than 225,000 people through its mobile food distribution program since 2020. The program battles food insecurity across the CSRA region.

Pastor Esaias Merritt with the Macedonia Church of Grovetown started the outreach program "It's About Family" to give aid to those in need. This program offers scholarships, counseling, mentorships, and school supplies.

The weekly mobile food distribution has seen the highest demand among all services offered. The pantry has given assistance through several crises. These include the pandemic, Hurricane Helene, furloughs, and the loss of SNAP benefits.

"The impact has been great. We felt it not only through the pandemic, but we also felt it through Hurricane Helene, through the furlough, loss of SNAP benefits, and I believe there is a hidden population that needs us, they just don't know we are here yet," Lesley Barnes said to WRDW.

Barnes said the grant will help cut costs tied to renting off-site storage units. Right now, the group rents storage units to hold shelf-stable food items.

It's About Family is one of 59 nonprofits that got a grant through the Community Foundation for the CSRA last week. The group received $15,000 to upgrade equipment used to unload food and boost storage capacity.

The mobile food distribution takes place Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Macedonia Church of Grovetown.