LDS holds food drive for Refuge-Ministries pantry

By PAMELA GRANT

Cove Leader-Press 

Local volunteers made a difference this weekend, gathering hundreds of pounds worth of non-perishable food which will be distributed to those in need.

Saturday morning, from 9 a.m. until noon, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints held a food drive outside of their church where they gathered more than 500 pounds of food donations which they then gave to Refuge-Ministries.

“They handle a food bank on Casa Drive, and they feed some of the neediest in the city and some of our elderly, and they’re running low on supplies, so we want to help them,” said Jan Stamer about Refuge-Ministries.

Stamer said that last month, Refuge-Ministries was able to feed about 70 families and that they may have even more families in need this month. Stamer said that she and the other church volunteers were more than happy to do what they could to be able to help the other organization.

 Volunteers collected a large variety of goods including rice, dried goods, sugar and flour, cereal, pancake mix, peanut butter, tuna, and more. They then sorted everything into boxes before delivering them to Refuge-Ministries.

“Charity is the pure love of Christ,” said Elder Jacob Butts, a member of the church. “If we truly have charity to our fellow man, that’s when we can truly see progress in the world because love is what can change the world.”

Darren K. Coleman, Communications Director for the Killeen Texas Stake for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, said that he and other members of the church want to help out the community, and were more than happy to step up and help support the Refuge-Ministry food bank.

“We desire to be part of the community and we love to help where we can,” said Coleman. “Love for humanity goes far above denomination.”

Brenda Graley, who is in charge of the Refuge-Ministries food bank said that they were beyond grateful for all of the donations and impressed by the other church’s generosity. Due to the effects of COVID-19, there has been an increased need for food, and the number of needy families has more than doubled from their usual numbers for the last two months. Their food bank is open on the 4th Saturday of each month. Graley said that with the supplies brought in by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, their storage shelves were filled for this month, and they are prepared to be able to help as many people as possible. The increase in donations has also given them a bit of a head start for next month.

Those interested in donating can call Refuge-Ministries at (254) 547-3349 to set up a time to drop off donations.