There is a growing operation near the banks of the Little River in Jenkinsville.
For over three months, the Little River Baptist Church has collected and distributed food to needy families via its new food pantry.
The Five Loaves Food Pantry opened May 26 and served about 16 families that day.
Since then it has grown to serve 39 families.
The pantry is located just off of Highway 213 at 343 Little River Church Road, Jenkinsville.
Food is distributed on the fourth Saturday of each month at 9 a.m.
Clients must fill out an application form that is done through Harvest Hope Food Bank.
This allows volunteers to minister to allergies and food restrictions, such as sugar for diabetics.
Forms are available at the church or can be picked up at the Jenkinsville Water Company.
Since Winnsboro already has a food pantry, the volunteers at Little River Baptist are focusing their outreach on the Jenkinsville and Blair areas.
There was not one here, said Mercy Clonts, but there was a need. It is good outreach to the community.
Her husband, James Clonts, is pastor at the church, which worships around twenty on any given Sunday.
“The congregation may have aging members but those members want to help out and reach out to their neighbors as Christ commanded,” Mercy Clonts said.
The operations may include collecting school supplies, in particular polo shirts for McCrorey Liston students to wear as uniforms.
Anyone who wants to donate food is generously asked to do so, however items must be nonperishable because the pantry does not have refrigerator or freezer space.
The Clonts say they mostly minister to older people with health problems who live in the area, though they do have some supplies on hand for young children.
They have free clothes to give away as well as baby items.
They focus on distributing healthy food for diabetics, food with high protein counts and low carbohydrates. Canned meat and dry cereals are two popular items.
Volunteers are needed on the fourth Saturday of each month to help hand out the food.
There is more to do on those mornings, though.
“We take prayer requests and visit with the crowd while they wait to be served,” Mercy Clonts said.
Another member of Little River Baptist makes and sells pillows and donates the proceeds to the food pantry. The pillows are sold on Sundays and are available at the church.
Pre-approval is required for persons to receive food from Five Loaves.
To receive pre-approval, a person must mail a copy of his or her South Carolina photo i.d. or driver’s license and a copy of a current utility bill proving residency in either the 29065 or 29015 zip codes.
Mailings should be sent to
Little River Baptist Church
Re: Food Pantry
PO Box 171 Jenkinsville, S.C. 29065
Little River Baptist Church
Persons interested in donating their time and talents to this cause may call Pastor James Clonts at 803-345-2217 for more information.
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