John Reed, manager at the Lord's Storehouse, says the demand for food has increased and people need more help.

Chuck works at the Haven of Rest Rescue Mission stocking grocery bags for needy families.

With support from OBI, the Lord's Storehouse helped feed 32,000 families and distributed nearly 19 million pounds of food in one year.

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Sleeping under a bridge and almost losing both his feet to frostbite was enough to motivate Chuck to make some changes in his life.

"I practically died under that bridge," the 49-year-old said. "I needed help."

Today, Chuck is off the streets and back on his feet thanks to a unique partnership among the Haven of Rest Rescue Mission, the Lord's Storehouse and Operation Blessing's Hunger Strike Force.

Chuck volunteers at the Haven of Rest Rescue Mission's food bank where he stocks bags for needy families. The Lord's Storehouse, a non-profit food distribution organization, keeps the Mission's shelves fully stocked on a weekly basis with nearly 1,000 pounds of food.

In fact, the Lord's Storehouse stocks the shelves of more than 130 organizations each week, spanning a 77-mile radius and covering five states.

They are able to do that, in part, thanks to Operation Blessing's Hunger Strike Force, who delivers truckloads of food and supplies to the Lord's Storehouse every Tuesday, and sometimes more often, depending on the need.

"The demand has increased and people need more help," said John Reed, manager of the Lord's Storehouse. "It's not just natural disasters that drive the need. The local economy has taken a big hit.”

In the past decade, coal mines, textile mills and large factories have closed down in the area leaving families without income, Reed said. Even the Storehouse's current location, a 141,000-square foot warehouse, was a former meat packing plant that went out of business in 1992.

With support from OBI, however, the Lord's Storehouse helped feed 32,000 families and distributed nearly 19 million pounds of food in just one year.

"Operation Blessing is the backbone of our food program," Reed said. "We want to be able to feed the hungry and help the poor by looking after their needs and being good neighbors.”

That's just what Chuck has in mind too.

"There are so many people just like me who need help," Chuck said. "Every bag of food I prepare, I do it as if it were my own. Each item makes a difference."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.

 

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