Salt Lick Freewill Baptist Church ends five-year food distribution partnership with God’s Pantry Food Bank in Bath County

Salt Lick Freewill Baptist Church in Bath County, Kentucky, held its final food distribution on Friday, ending a five-year collaboration with God’s Pantry Food Bank.

The church’s pastor, identified in the source as Lands, recalled the early days of the effort. “When we first started, before God’s Pantry got involved, we could feed 20 families a month for like four or five hundred dollars a month. Then God blessed us with this and it only cost us time,” Lands said.

For years, cars filled the church’s parking lot as families came to collect food for their households. God’s Pantry Food Bank said new information led it to realign its resources toward areas with greater need.

Alex Maddox, communications director at God’s Pantry Food Bank, said updated data drove the decision. “Part of this new data we got from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap showed us we have several counties, particularly in Eastern Kentucky, that are now seeing greater food insecurity rates than they were seeing a year ago,” Maddox said.

Lands described the church’s response to the change. “Disappointment. We weren’t angry, but we understand and we’re thankful,” Lands said.

Maddox said families who relied on the distribution site can still find food assistance through other locations in the region. “I would encourage people to reach out to us if they need help. We are here to help people in Central and Eastern Kentucky. We will point them in the direction of a partner pantry that can assist them,” Maddox said.

Lands said the church’s commitment to the community continues, even though the distribution has ended. “Not sure what we are going to do moving forward, but we’re still praying about it and God will take care of it,” Lands said.

Source: Read the original report