Church delivers food to doorsteps during COVID-19

LEWIS COUNTY, Wash. — A church congregation is behind the latest effort to feed people in Lewis County by helping those who can't leave their homes.

Before COVID-19, Gather Church in Centralia hosted a grocery store-style food bank where people could shop every week.

To help with social distancing and to keep people safe, they began boxing food and delivering it to people’s homes.

"If we can’t literally be together, we still have to be there for one another, right? So whatever we can do to help alleviate some of the struggle people are facing,” said Cole Meckle, pastor of Gather Church.

The need quickly grew, so the church decided to expand. They built a website that allows people across Lewis County to order free food.

"As a man of faith, God inspired us to get a head start on that,” said Meckle.

Right away, people started signing up.

Within weeks, the need nearly quadrupled. Last month, Gather Church fed about 200 families a week. This week, they’ll feed close to 700, which adds up to about 18,000 pounds of food.

“It’s been an amazing response with the community. It’s been beautiful. It’s been unifying. At a time when things can be pretty doggone divisive, and there’s so much negativity, it’s been wonderful to find a way to come onto the same page,” said Meckle.

Gather Church volunteers are delivering so much food, the church bought a box truck to haul the meals.

"When we’re delivering food to them then they don’t have to go to the grocery store, so that’s keeping them safe. All of our drivers, they glove up, they mask up, they knock, drop and leave,” said Triss Stanfield, Gather Church care coordinator. “I don’t want anybody to go hungry, that’s why I do what I do. So, go on, place an order, that’s the most thing to me is that people don’t go hungry.”

Each box also comes with a recipe sheet, which gives families an idea of what to make with the ingredients inside the box.

To sign up or to donate, visit Gather Church’s stock box website.

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