"He didn't make any exclusions"

Local church serves community with food pantry

Though unassuming through most of the week, a line forms out the door at New Beginnings Church of Christ in Fulton during their weekly food pantry, 2-5 p.m. Tuesdays. Last year, the church gave out more than 886,000 pounds of food.
Though unassuming through most of the week, a line forms out the door at New Beginnings Church of Christ in Fulton during their weekly food pantry, 2-5 p.m. Tuesdays. Last year, the church gave out more than 886,000 pounds of food.

When the New Beginnings Church of Christ was formed about six years ago, its congregation wasted little time getting to work feeding the hungry, first starting with free meals for area youth once a week.

Since then, their mission has grown in scope and size. Now at 6th and Jefferson streets in Fulton, the church opens its doors from 2-5 p.m. every Tuesday as a food pantry, passing out food from the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri.

New Beginnings pastor Edwin Hall said that for the church, the decision to take on such a task was simple.

"When Jesus said "feed my sheep,' he didn't make any exclusions," said Hall.

The New Beginnings food pantry has no income requirements and just asks that those who need food come by the church during pantry hours or call the emergency line, 573-310-4237, if they need assistance at another time. Families receive bags of food picked up and sorted that morning, based on the size and need of the family.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.