Jesus told a parable (Matthew 25:31-46) to his disciples about a group that He praised for all they did helping people, including providing food.
They were surprised and asked, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?”
Jesus replied, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic hurting people on so many levels, one group rose to the challenge to help. The N.C. Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief became the hands of Jesus when they partnered with the USDA Farmers to Families program.
This program – part of the CARES Act – provided fresh produce, dairy and meat items in family-size boxes. Of the businesses and organizations that were awarded grants, one faith based group was chosen, Baptist on Missions, the parent of Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief.
A multitude of men from over 200 Baptist Churches volunteered to help deliver and distributed the food boxes to more than 300 churches and community centers. This was in every county in the state, from Manteo to Murphy.
Since April, they have distributed approximately 8,000 food boxes each week that contained 150,000 pounds of fresh produce and fruit, 2,000 pounds of cheese and dairy products and 9,600 pound of meat. In addition, milk was added to the distributions and 2,000 gallons were distributed each week.
I had the privilege to help unload and distribute some of the boxes in the Farmer to Families program. I took note of the boxes, where they were from and the packer. The food boxes the Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief distributed were in a class by themselves. I was always told to give of your best to the Lord and they did. The baptist men’s food boxes arriving in Graham County were distributed by the Grace Place. Our gratitude to Scott Millsaps, Regional Disaster Relief Feeding Coordinator for the Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief, for stepping up and seeing Graham County was not forgotten.
The symbol of Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief is the outline of the state of North Carolina with a sheaf of wheat – physical needs; and the ichthus (fish) symbol – spiritual needs, in the middle.
For more information, go to baptistsonmission.org.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is the pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church.