“A work in progress.”
With a twist on its meaning, this oft-repeated phrase serves as the motto for New Freedom Christian Fellowship.
With Saturday's debut of its new Food Bank, New Freedom continues to extend its footprint of service and outreach in Franklin County. The new food ministry is just another step in the church's “work in progress” spirit of service.
“This is part of the vision we have as far as helping to meet needs in the community,” Mario McCulloch, New Freedom pastor, said. “Ministry means meeting needs. Jesus Christ is about meeting each of our needs. We have been blessed by God, and He's opened doors and we're excited. This food ministry has been on my heart, and our church members and volunteers have worked so hard to make it a reality."
New Freedom held its first free food giveaway this past Saturday, April 11. A steady stream of Franklin County residents visited the church, located at 15312 Hwy. 43 in Russellville, to receive food boxes filled with canned and boxed items along with fresh meat and other perishables.
Misty Curry serves as New Freedom's Food Bank chairwoman. Curry, a former registered nurse who left nursing as a result of disability, said she volunteered for the position because it directly meets an urgent need in the community.
“Having worked with people as a RN for eight years, I knew Franklin County had a need for this," Curry said. "I felt so welcome when I came to this church, and now it's like they are my spiritual parents. Since I can't work due to my disability, this is what I do now.
"I love helping people. That's why I became a nurse and why we've set up this food ministry. We live in a county with one of Alabama's higher poverty levels, so we felt led to meet this need for the area.”
New Freedom will hold free food giveaways from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. one Saturday per month. Additionally, the church will have food boxes available during the week on an as-needed basis.
The program is open to all Franklin County families and residents who provide a valid ID and receive SNAP, food stamp or AFDC assistance, and/or families who live at or below the poverty line.
Dates and times for monthly food giveaways will be listed in the Franklin Free Press, on a portable sign in front of the church and on New Freedom's Facebook page. New Freedom's Food Bank is sponsored by the Food Bank of North Alabama.
New Freedom also hosts a free community supper each Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. after the evening Bible study. Everyone is welcome, and attendance at the Wednesday service is not required to come eat supper.
Curry hopes to see the monthly Food Bank grow to serve at least 300 families. New Freedom was recently approved for a USDA grant that will help provide breakfast, lunch and daily snacks, at no cost, to children participating in the New Freedom Day Care Ministry. Additionally, New Freedom will team with the City of Russellville Park and Recreation Department on a summer feeding program for kids. This free program will provide breakfast and lunch for local youth during the summer break.
The New Freedom Food Bank is operated entirely by volunteers. McCulloch hopes to see the ministry's next phase of service come with purity classes for area teenaged girls.
For more information on New Freedom Christian Fellowship or its food ministry, call 256-398-7003.
