Food Ministry

Bread of Life

Community Outreach Ministry

Pantry distribution days and locations are as follows:

9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on 1^st and 3^rd Saturdays of each month – First United Methodist Church, Covington, Education building

9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays of each month – Trust Company Bank building, rear entrance, in Brighton

If there are questions or more information is needed, please contact Grace Phelps at 476-9694 or gphelps_fumc@bellsouth.net .

Description of Ministry

In an effort to help to alleviate hunger among needy people in our community, First United Methodist Church has become a member agency in the Mid-South Food Bank, a division of a national non-profit food bank network called Feeding America, in order to begin a feeding ministry in Tipton County. There are currently no Mid-South Food Bank distribution agencies in north Tipton County or in Brighton currently, and there is great need in our community.

Mid-South Food Bank is an independent, nondenominational 501(c)(3) Tennessee corporation founded in 1981 and serves 200 agencies with 285 charitable feeding programs in 31 counties in west Tennessee, north Mississippi and east Arkansas.

Persons who come for food must be Tipton county residents and provide documentation that they meet one of six criteria required by the Mid-South Food Bank:

Be current participants in the food stamp program; or
Currently receive SSI (retirement or disability); or
Be current recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or
Currently live in public housing; or
Be current participant in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; or
Have total household income of less than 150% of the U.S. poverty income guideline based on their household size.

If they qualify to receive food, they may receive one food distribution per household every 30 days from a Mid-South Food Bank member agency.

During our first three months of operation (April – June 2010), we served 385 Tipton County families providing them with over 34,000 pounds of food at an average cost of 5.8 cents per pound. On the last several pantry distribution days, we have served over 80 families in a two hour timeframe. The food provided is designed to provide a balanced, nutritious supply of food, adjusted for the size of their household, for a seven-day period. It includes meats, vegetables, fruits, milk, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, and bread.

The pantry is staffed entirely by volunteers and funded entirely by freewill giving. If you would like to volunteer your time or contribute money to help us pay the shared maintenance costs of the food to the Mid-South Food Bank, we welcome your support and participation.

Boxed Food at Covington Food Pantry

Bread of Life Food Pantry Sign

Jamie Glenn at Brighton Food Pantry