Blue Eye Church offers weekly drive-through food distribution
December 3, 2020
Two lanes of cars line up for Farmers to Families food box distribution in at Bowman Old Time Pentecostal Church in Blue Eye.
Cindy Hembree
Since COVID-19 made its appearance early last year, the ability to put food on the table has been felt throughout the country. In Blue Eye, local pastor Jeff Burkhart and his congregation from Bowman Old Time Pentecostal Church (BOTPC) have risen to the call here in Stone County.
In June, Convoy of Hope (COH) reached out to Burkhart to distribute boxes of food to people in the area. Burkhart quickly accepted the challenge. With assistance from his congregation, he reached out to the community on social media. News of the bi-weekly food distribution spread quickly. The boxes contained meat, produce, gallons of milk and other food items. Eventually, Convoy of Hope lost the contract from suppliers. Fortunately, Farmers to Families was able to come to the rescue and supply the provisions.
The demands became greater in September, as COVID numbers began to spike again. Burkhart started making calls to other suppliers and local organizations to help meet the need. The response has been overwhelming. He and his church members are now able to distribute food to the community weekly. Bowman Old Time Pentecostal Church has become the second-largest food pantry in Stone County.
The food distribution begins at 6:00 p.m. every Friday. Many of the participants try to arrive early because the cars stack up quickly. Before distribution begins, the pastor his volunteers gather for prayer. Church members distribute food to two lanes of vehicles, with the entire process taking approximately forty-five minutes.
The pastor said that they would be able to continue their weekly food allocation through the end of the year. “We are here for the people in the community,” said his wife, Melody. Pastor Burkhard added that if COVID-19 continues into next year, new contracts will have to be made.
The Bowman Old Time Pentecostal Church is located at 143 Bowman Church Lane in Blue Eye. Food distribution is every Friday at 6 p.m. For more information, call 417-251-3198.
Since COVID-19 made its appearance early last year, the ability to put food on the table has been felt throughout the country. In Blue Eye, local pastor Jeff Burkhart and his congregation from Bowman Old Time Pentecostal Church (BOTPC) have risen to the call here in Stone County.
In June, Convoy of Hope (COH) reached out to Burkhart to distribute boxes of food to people in the area. Burkhart quickly accepted the challenge. With assistance from his congregation, he reached out to the community on social media. News of the bi-weekly food distribution spread quickly. The boxes contained meat, produce, gallons of milk and other food items. Eventually, Convoy of Hope lost the contract from suppliers. Fortunately, Farmers to Families was able to come to the rescue and supply the provisions.
The demands became greater in September, as COVID numbers began to spike again. Burkhart started making calls to other suppliers and local organizations to help meet the need. The response has been overwhelming. He and his church members are now able to distribute food to the community weekly. Bowman Old Time Pentecostal Church has become the second-largest food pantry in Stone County.
The food distribution begins at 6:00 p.m. every Friday. Many of the participants try to arrive early because the cars stack up quickly. Before distribution begins, the pastor his volunteers gather for prayer. Church members distribute food to two lanes of vehicles, with the entire process taking approximately forty-five minutes.
The pastor said that they would be able to continue their weekly food allocation through the end of the year. “We are here for the people in the community,” said his wife, Melody. Pastor Burkhard added that if COVID-19 continues into next year, new contracts will have to be made.
The Bowman Old Time Pentecostal Church is located at 143 Bowman Church Lane in Blue Eye. Food distribution is every Friday at 6 p.m. For more information, call 417-251-3198.