When Bob Pemberton, director of missions for Judson Baptist Association, heard that more than 38,000 people go to bed hungry every night in southeastern Alabama, he decided to do something about it.
“There was a heartfelt need in Henry County to meet the physical needs of people so that we could meet their spiritual needs,” Pemberton said.
On May 7, the Judson Association office in Abbeville opened both a thrift store and a food pantry based in mobile units on the associational office’s property.
“What we do is use the income from the thrift store — at which anyone can shop — to buy the food for our food pantry,” Pemberton explained. “Henry County just didn’t have anything of this nature countywide.”
Now in its fifth week of operation, the thrift store is off to a great start, according to Nell Price, volunteer director of the new ministry.
“You wouldn’t believe how much has been donated. I’m to the capacity of storage, but I just can’t seem to turn anything away,” she said. “People are willing to give if they just know there is a need.”
With the recent donation of an 18-wheeler, the association will open it up as an overflow location, utilizing every bit of space available.
“Our ultimate goal is to have a nice facility,” Price said. “The more space we have, the more people we can reach.”
She began volunteering with the thrift store and food pantry when they were simply ideas in January. Now that they’re open, Price has made contact with many community residents who come through the doors needing assistance. “We have one single male parent with a special-needs child and two other children. He’s really trying but his daughter’s medical expenses are costly,” she said. The association was able to help the family with some of its needs.
The Judson Association office has been in contact with the Department of Human Resources, the health department, hospice agencies and doctors’ offices, informing them of its ongoing ministry for referrals.
“Our goal is to have one coordinator from each of the churches in our association to volunteer to keep this thrift store open and to get more people involved,” Price said. “We hope to reach Henry County.”
Both the food pantry and thrift store are open 9 a.m.–noon and 2–4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as 9 a.m.–noon on Saturdays.
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