Open twice a month, the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Brookhaven distributes food items to local citizens in need.

The church pantry is one of five local charitable organizations that will be helped by the Bank of Brookhaven and Daily Leader Holiday Food Pantry drive this year.

During the first nine months of 2013, Bethel AME Church has provided more than 40,200 pounds of food to 2,188 Lincoln County recipients, said Bethel AME pantry director Stanford Qualls. This averages 18.3 pounds of food per recipient.

This past Wednesday, Qualls and eight other volunteers from the community spent all day distributing food to those in need. It is a service that his church has been providing for years now.

Judging by the number of food recipients at the pantry Wednesday, it is also a necessary service.

“Our goal is to provide the residents of Lincoln County with the opportunity to have nutritional meals,” Qualls said.

“I see the need for the pantry everyday. Every donation to this cause helps out with our efforts.”

Donations to the annual Holiday Food Pantry drive began Nov. 27 and will continue to be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. After Friday, all the donations will be calculated and distributed to the beneficiary organizations. Besides Bethel AME Church, other recipient charities include the Greater Hope Foundation, St. Francis of Assisi/St. Vincent de Paul, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and Union Hall Baptist Church.

Donations from the Holiday Pantry Drive will help these organizations complete their mission this holiday season.

Contributions can be mailed to The Daily Leader, P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602, or made at the newspaper office at 128 N. Railroad Ave. Monday through Friday.

Donations also can be mailed to the Bank of Brookhaven or taken to any of the bank’s tellers.