Hundreds of families are helped through the holiday season withbags of groceries from the Brookhaven Outreach Ministries FoodPantry, but officials there believe more families are in need ofassistance.

“This is the time when we really need assistance – during thelast two months of the year,” said the Rev. Jerry Durr, director ofthe ministry.

According to the organization’s records, more than 800 familiesreceived bags of groceries last year, and more than half of thosecame in November and December.

“We passed out 359 bags of groceries last year in December, andanother 171 were passed in November. Of those in November, 112 bagswere given at Thanksgiving,” Durr said. “Those are large bags ofgroceries that we give out.”

Amanda Williams visited the Outreach Ministries facility onRailroad Avenue Wednesday to see what was available. She said shewould return closer to Christmas for groceries.

“There really shouldn’t be anyone in Brookhaven who says theirneeds are not being met,” she said. “They may not get their wants,but they can get their needs met here. I’m just so thankful I havea place to come to get help.”

Funded through the United Way and private donations, theOutreach Ministries Food Pantry allows patrons to pick up groceriesMondays through Fridays from 1-3 p.m.

“We meet the needs of so many. Just yesterday we had about sevenpeople come in,” Durr said.

Although the food pantry tries to help as many as possible,there are limitations to who they can assist, he said. Federalmandates require those seeking assistance to meet annual incomeguidelines or be on low-income programs, such as food stamps orTemporary Assistance for Needy Families.

“There are special circumstances when someone who does notnormally meet the requirements could still receive assistance,” hesaid, citing victims of house fires and other tragedies.

Each year, the food pantry adopts two senior citizen complexesto assist during the holiday season. One of the two chosen thisyear is Brookwood Apartments, where each of the 30 tenants willreceive a bag of groceries.

Williams, a tenant at Brookwood Apartments, praised BrookhavenOutreach Ministries.

“It’s not just about the food and other things,” she said. “Youcan always get spiritual guidance and counseling here, too.”

Brookhaven Outreach Ministries and its food pantry, which isoperated separately from other services, are pairing up this yearto provide a holiday grocery and toy give-away Dec. 21. Childrenbenefiting from the give-away will be those who were not includedin the Toys for Tots, Junior Auxiliary Angel Tree or otherprograms, Durr said.

“People are already registering and signing up for that,” hesaid. “Preregistration is required.”

A fund has been set up at Bank of Brookhaven to accept donationsto aid Brookhaven Outreach Ministries and other food pantries inthe Lincoln County area. The fund was established as part offund-raising drive by The DAILY LEADER and Bank of Brookhaven.

John Lowman, The DAILY LEADER’s general manager, said theaccount will remain open until Dec. 17 and checks will be issued tofood pantries the week before Christmas.

Last year’s contributions of $7,800 were divided betweenBrookhaven Outreach Ministries, St. Vincent de Paul Ministries ofSt. Francis Church and Union Hall Baptist Church.

The fund this year so far stands at $1,585.

Donations, which are recognized daily on the front page of thepaper, may be dropped off at the newspaper office, 128 N. RailroadAve., or at the Bank of Brookhaven, 411 Brookway Blvd. Checksshould be made payable to Holiday Food Pantry. Donations may bemade in honor of a friend or loved one and also may be madeanonymously.