WQIO Ohio's Super Station
Every month, volunteers at Covenant Christian Church transform fellowship into food assistance, helping more than 80 Knox County families put meals on the table.
The ministry recently received a $2,500 summer grant from Food For The Hungry of Knox County, one of 12 grants awarded this year totaling $30,500 to local organizations working to combat hunger.
For Pam Vanderpool, who has directed the church’s food pantry since 2016, the grant represents far more than financial support.
“We try so hard to maximize your dollars,” Vanderpool said. “Without those dollars, we simply could not do what we do and serve those we serve.”
Each month, the pantry provides enough groceries to feed a family of four for approximately two weeks. During the summer, volunteers also include more child-friendly food items, recognizing that children are home from school and eating more meals at home.
The pantry serves families living on fixed incomes as well as those experiencing unexpected financial setbacks.
“For whatever reason, they have hit a bump in the road and need that boost, that encouragement, that meal,” Vanderpool said.
Vanderpool’s commitment to the ministry is personal.
Growing up in a family that relied on food assistance programs, she understands firsthand the challenges many clients face. That experience has shaped the way the pantry operates today.
One item she makes sure every family receives is toilet paper, noting that essential household products are not covered through federal nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP.
“We all use that every day, don’t we?” Vanderpool said.
The pantry is staffed almost entirely by church volunteers, many of whom have served together for years. Volunteers use a conveyor belt system to efficiently fill grocery totes before helping load food into recipients’ vehicles.
Vanderpool recalled one experience that reinforced why the ministry matters.
After mistakenly ordering cases of macaroni and cheese instead of individual boxes, the pantry distributed an entire case to each family. The following month, one recipient returned in tears, telling Vanderpool the unexpected supply of macaroni had sustained her through an especially difficult time.
“What I thought was a mistake,” Vanderpool said, “God turned into a blessing.”
The Covenant Christian Church Food Pantry is open the second Saturday of each month, excluding November, from 10 a.m. to noon at 13360 New Delaware Road in Mount Vernon.
Recipients must be Knox County residents, provide proof of residency and a photo ID, and meet income eligibility guidelines.
Food For The Hungry of Knox County officials say partnerships with organizations like Covenant Christian Church help ensure local families have access to nutritious food and essential household items while navigating difficult financial circumstances.
