First Christian Church Community Grocery Provides Food Assistance to Warren County Families

First Christian Church in Bowling Green, Ky., is providing essential food assistance to Warren County families through its Community Grocery. As rising costs of groceries, rent, and other necessities strain household budgets, the church’s initiative offers a vital resource for those in need.

The First Christian Church Community Grocery, located at 1106 State St., operates twice weekly, offering food assistance to residents of Warren County. Jean Secrest, the coordinator and chairman of the community grocery, noted an increase in the number of families seeking help compared to last year. “Some people have lost their jobs due to cutbacks,” Secrest said. “Some of the people are working, and they just can’t make ends meet with the cost of what gasoline and grocery and rent is.”

The grocery is open on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. Anyone residing in Warren County who needs food assistance is welcome to visit. Secrest emphasized that the grocery does not require income or housing verification, allowing individuals and families to access support without additional barriers.

Shoppers can select food items based on their family’s needs rather than receiving a pre-selected box. The grocery offers a variety of items including canned vegetables and fruit, proteins, starches, dairy products, fresh produce, meat, bread, and other essentials. Families can visit once every 30 days if they need assistance.

The grocery typically serves between 50 and 90 families each week, with family sizes ranging from one person to as many as seven or eight. Most of the food comes through Feeding America, while Panera Bread provides a weekly bread donation. The grocery also relies on food and monetary donations to help purchase and provide items to families.

Secrest highlighted that canned soups, canned vegetables, fresh produce, and dairy products are among the items that are always needed. Recently, 10 to 15 volunteers helped unload a Feeding America truck, stock shelves, and organize food for future distributions. Typically, six to 10 volunteers work during each community grocery shift.

Secrest noted that the grocery is seeing both returning families and people seeking assistance for the first time. Some individuals only need help for a short period while they get back on their feet. “We had someone this morning that had just gotten a job, but they don’t start till tomorrow, so no paycheck yet,” Secrest said.

For anyone hesitant to ask for help, Secrest emphasized that there is no judgment. “There’s no judgment here because all of us at some point have a tough time,” Secrest said. “We’ve all been there and we want to be there to be able to help you, to get through it.”

Secrest said the grocery’s goal is to make life a little easier for families and ensure they have food on the table. The initiative reflects a commitment to neighbor-love and mercy, aligning with the biblical call to care for the hungry and the poor, as seen in Matthew 25:35.

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