News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville First United Methodist Church received a $4,000 grant from Second Harvest to provide food for local residents.
On June 26th at 9:30 a.m., a mobile food pantry will deliver a truck load of food to the church. Cookeville First United Methodist Church Servant Ministries Coordinator Tamika Parker said the food will serve around 400 to 600 families.
“It is really exciting for our church and our community,” Parker said. “Our pantry has been operating, but we actually have not been able to have folks in the building. We have been operating on emergency appointments only.”
Parker said the church and the city of Cookeville worked together to create a plan to reduce traffic while waiting in line. Officials ask residents to not arrive more than 15 minutes early. The pantry will last until 1:30 p.m. or until supplies run out.
“If we get a backup on any of these streets, the city is going to be upset,” Parker said. “We coordinated with the city for two or three weeks, and with us in the heart of town, we are really going to need folks to follow the rules.”
All participants must have their car trunk or truck bed cleaned out before arriving. No more than two families per vehicle can pick up food. Remain inside your vehicle and open your trunk or van door when arriving. Volunteers will place the food in your car. Animals are not allowed inside the vehicles.
“We partner with Second Harvest through out the year for many different activities and operate our food pantry on a monthly basis,” Parker said.
Parker said Second Harvest will bring produce, canned goods, dairy and other nonperishable foods. The check-in will be in the parking lot across the street from the Baptist Church on S. Walnut. From there, residents will receive further instructions on how to receive their goods.
