In order for one to serve God, one has to be able to provide substance to help others.

In the Russellville community, a church does just that.

The “Loaves and Fishes Ministry” is a faithbased ministry through Russellville United Methodist Church whose mission is to feed the bodies and souls of hungry children in the community. This ministry began nearly 20 years ago simply by sending a few snacks home each week at the local schools.

Ministry Volunteer Mary Ann Rush took time to discuss Russellville UMC’s duties to the children of the community.

“We started before Food on Foot was active in the schools, around 2008,” Rush said. “We do the only three schools who aren’t being served by other organizations in Hamblen County, including Russellville Primary, Russellville Intermediate, and East Ridge Middle School.

“We had a pastor who brought this to us about even kids taking home giving kids a sleeve and crackers and peanut butter,” she said. “Honestly when we first started, we didn’t have the money to do this, but since then, we have gotten grants, had fundraisers and got donations from the community to help with the program.”

These days, this ministry partners with Second Harvest Food Bank and sponsors the food backpack program in the three Russellville-area schools. Through this program, the students and their siblings are provided nourishing snacks to take home on the weekends. The snacks comply with a menu that satisfies nutritional guidelines for this program. Research shows that weekends are a crucial time when children often do not have enough to eat.

“We have a model used by Second Harvest, which includes nine items each weekend,” Rush said. “This includes two proteins, two cereal/macaroni category, milk and four more sides including veggies, peanut butter crackers, meat sticks and fruit.

“The thing that is unique from Second Harvest, if the student has a sibling, the student takes home enough bags for every child in the home,” Rush said.

The numbers of students went back up due to high food costs, Rush said.

“The most remarkable thing is that since COVID, we are down to 12-13 members to run this program, as well as the church. We are feeding 57 kids each week.

“We’ve not had to get any grants lately because we’ve had enough in donations,” she said.

“Loaves and Fishes” also provides food boxes for the families during holidays when school is not in session.

In addition to food, this ministry provides warm clothing such as coats, hats, gloves, and socks, as well as blankets for the winter season when many families are faced with reduced heating in their homes.

This ministry is also available to help families during crisis situations.

The Loaves and Fishes Ministry of Russellville UMC is always working to maintain funds to support these children. Through donations, grants, community dinners, and the sale of hymnal angels, children in the Russellville community are fed each week.

To help “Loaves and Fishes,” send a donation to: Russellville United Methodist Church – Food Ministry, c/o Brenda Keezel, Treasurer, 3524 Carlyle Place, Morristown, TN 37814.