Members of Cartecay Baptist Church want local residents to know of a new free food program recently started at the church.
Cartecay Baptist is partnering with There’s Hope For the Hungry (THFTH), a nonprofit food ministry affiliated with Cumming’s First Redeemer Church, to be a monthly distribution site for THFTH food boxes.
“We want to reach not just the folks in the Cartecay area, but anybody in Ellijay who is hungry. We want to feed them with the word of God and a box of food,” said the Rev. Chad Hall, Cartecay Baptist’s pastor.
The 20-pound food boxes are distributed the fourth Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Cartecay Baptist Chruch Fellowship Hall, 118 Riverwood Road.
The boxes usually contain nonperishable food and dry goods like beans and rice, Hall noted.
Anyone in need of food can receive one, he confirmed.
“We need them to bring a form of ID, and there are a few questions we ask them. There’s no real restrictions. We had (someone) come from Dahlonega the first time we did it,” Hall said.
There’s Hope for the Hungry’s webpage states the organization’s mission is to “increase disciples of Jesus Christ and decrease food insecurities throughout north Georgia.” The nonprofit currently provides food boxes to more than 40 Georgia churches.
The food arrives by truck on the morning of distribution, and church members are assisted in the process by THFTH personnel.
“They’re here the whole time helping us with the distribution,” Hall said.
Cartecay Baptist was on a waiting list for about a year to start hosting the program, and November will be the third month in which the food boxes have been given out there, said Hall.
“We’ve seen a slow response, but I think that’s because it’s new and we’re still trying to get the word out,” he added.