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Crossroads Food Pantry a 'full service' partner agency of MFB Georgia
The best way to describe Crossroads Food Pantry is "full service." Located on the Thomas Crossroad Church campus, the pantry has grown in the last three years from a small cabinet of food to giving 2,000 pounds of food away every Monday. Crossroads is a nonprofit partner of Midwest Food Bank Georgia.
"Our model is a grocery store environment where our clients shop for what they need," says Tommy Inman, pastor of Community Impact. "We have shopping assistants who help our clients shop, and we bag all their groceries and then carry it to their car."While the pantry distributes a lot of food, there's more to it than that.
"At their car we ask them if we can pray for them," says Tommy. "Our focus is not to provide food, but to establish relationships."
Those relationships start as soon as guests arrive. There is a waiting area with refreshments, and often clients come early for their scheduled shopping time to spend time with the volunteers that welcome them.
"We want to be viewed as partners in their struggle and learn about their needs," says Tommy.
Those needs can include clothing, medical care, or disaster victims, such as the people impacted by a recent tornado in the area. The church provided a bed for a family working through a sexual abuse situation with their 14-year-old daughter. Through conversation, they learned the girl was sleeping on the floor.
"We wouldn't have known or been able to provide this help if it was not for us providing food," says Tommy.
Another client shared that the food she receives from the pantry allows her to buy the oxygen her husband needs to live.
Another client shared that the food she receives from the pantry allows her to buy the oxygen her husband needs to live.
Crossroads Food Pantry receives 34 percent of the food they distribute from Midwest Food Bank Georgia, all free of charge.
About 67 volunteers work in various roles in the pantry to serve over 200 families representing more than 800 individuals. About a third of the clients are senior citizens on fixed incomes. Others are going through job loss or medical issues.
"Our partnership with Crossroads Food Pantry provides hope to our neighbors experiencing hardships," says Pat Burke, Executive Director of MFB Georgia. "Their ministry is changing lives through the gift of food, and we are privileged to be a part of that impact."
Crossroads Food Pantry at MFB Georgia food distribution.
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