FORT MYERS, Fla.—“It starts with a bag of food,” says Mike Muilli, director of Soul Food Pantry, a ministry of Daniels Road Baptist Church. Each person who comes to the Soul Food Pantry receives a bag of canned food and frozen meat. It’s enough food to sustain a family for four days.
Daniels Road Baptist started the food pantry in 2009 to address families facing hunger. The pantry started with meeting the needs of its church family and grew into serving the community. In 2009 the pantry served 10–20 families a week. Today it serves an average of 80 families a week.
Based on the 2010 Hunger study, 63 percent of Southwest Florida households lack access to adequate food. Pastor Erik Bennett says, “Outreach is part of Daniels Road Baptist Church’s DNA, and this is one way we assist the community.”
In order to meet the needs of the pantry families, Daniels Road Baptist requires 150 canned goods per week. The church also partners with Harry Chapin Food Bank to purchase food at a discounted price. For every dollar donated, the pantry can purchase six dollars worth of food.
Sheryl Belcher has been visiting the pantry for over a year. She says, “We needed food assistance when we took custody of our grandchildren, which made us a family of seven. Everyone at the pantry is so helpful and friendly, which is why we keep coming back.”
Soul Food Pantry goes beyond offering bags of food. Ten volunteers talk to the families and see how else Daniels Road Baptist can help. Some of the volunteers have provided résumé writing, job assistance, and just lending an ear.
Volunteer Dr. Jim Gostigian says, “The food is a way for the church to show people that we care and that there is a loving God that cares for them too.” Liz Smith, who has been a volunteer for over five years, says, “I’m a part of the food pantry because I love helping others and it teaches my two kids about helping others in need.”
Bill Evans has been visiting the pantry for two year and now volunteers every Friday. Fighting back tears, he says, “I never thought someone would help someone like me. Someone who didn’t have anything and was down on their luck. From day one all the volunteers are dedicated to helping those in need, and you see it through this ministry.”
The food pantry survives on donations. The last two years, Vacation Bible School has held a contest to collect cans. (Read “VBS Collects Cans for a Cause.”) In 2013 students collected roughly 300 cans. This year they doubled that number.
The pantry can always use donations—monetary or canned goods—and is looking for a refrigerator. For more information on Soul Food Pantry, visit www.mydrbc.org.
