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By NATHAN HOWELL | Special to the Reporter

HELENA – Helena United Methodist Church recently partnered with Manna Ministries to hold a two-day food drive event from June 14-15.

Manna Ministries is a weekly food distribution resource based in Alabaster that helps provide food to families in need. As the COVID-19 pandemic impacted food supplies and the financial security of many, this service has been more necessary than ever.

Sherri Smith, Helena UMC Director of Missions, said that the food drive event brought together not only church members, but members of the community who wanted to help make a difference in the lives of others.

“We have organized two food drives for Manna Ministries in the past two months. Over 100 church and community members have participated,” Smith said. “Based on the amount of non-perishable food collected, we have been able to provide food for 800 clients of Manna Ministries.”

The food drive collected non-perishable items like canned meats and vegetables, which will find their way to families through Manna Ministries food donation program. Since this drive was so successful, the church plans on doing another event soon.

“Manna Ministries is one of our local mission partners that we support as a church with our prayers, prescience and financial contributions. We plan on organizing another food drive for them at the end of next month,” Smith said. “Manna Ministries does a fantastic job of providing for the needs of the community.”

With the food that is donated to Manna Ministries, the organization invites those who need fresh items like fruit, vegetables as well as shelf-stable items such as canned, boxed and bagged goods, to come out between 9 and 10:30 a.m. each Saturday.

Each of the last several Saturdays, cars have been lined up waiting to drive through and pick up items, as more than 200 families each Saturday are getting needed items.

More information about future food drives or Manna Ministries food donation program can be found by visiting Facebook.com/mannaofalabaster.