NASHVILLE, TN — Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. at 1109 32nd Avenue North hosts monthly food giveaways on the third Saturday of each month. The next one is February 17, 2024 beginning at 10 am. until noon (or until all food is gone).
The giveaway bags include enough food for 3 dinners and breakfasts. Suggested menus and recipes are given to the recipients. “We don’t want to give random cans that people cannot envision how to use,” says Gwendolyn McClain, Food Pantry Team Leader. So our packages come with suggested menus and recipes to make meals. For example, The menu for Day 1 is salmon patties, whole kernel corn and fried apples. All of those items are in the bag. The recipe for salmon patties calls for minced onions and Panko bread crumbs so we include those too.
“We believe that everyone deserves desirable and nutritious food,” says church Pastor Jimmy D. Greer, Sr. “We receive funds from our membership to purchase food specifically for our pantry. We want to make sure that we give good food that we would eat.”
The church is surrounded by households facing food insecurity, according to a recently-released study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Using measurements of food access and household economic hardship, the ZIP codes with the highest rates of food insecurity include 37207, 37208, and 37218 – all near the church.
“Our neighbors are struggling with ‘food insecurity.” As Christians, we cannot ignore them. Scripture tells us to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifice God is pleased. We are doing what God has called us to do,” Pastor Greer states.
McClain explains that the food giveaways are on the third Saturday because when you’re living from paycheck to paycheck, it’s hard to stretch your grocery money until the end of the month. When something unexpected occurs, the food budget is cut or deleted. It’s more flexible than utility bills or rent payments.”
For more information call Mildred Walters at 615-975-9235.