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In the giving season of Palm Sunday and Lent, local ministries teamed up to provide food for the Suffolk community.

Faith Temple Ministries Apostolic Church held a spring food giveaway from 10 a.m. to noon on March 27 to help meet the needs of people that are still struggling as this pandemic continues.

Folks could walk or drive up on a beautiful Saturday morning to receive a box of food containing canned goods, meats, fruits, vegetables, oysters, rice, and other items families need to have a balanced and healthy meal.

“When the pandemic first hit, community groups, churches and organizations stepped up to fill the need,” said Pastor Steven Brown at Faith Temple Ministries Apostolic Church. “Since the pandemic has started subsiding, people have lost the excitement to outreach. People are hungry every season, and we want to let the Suffolk community know the church is here and present.”

This food giveaway was also a first-time partnership with Faith Temple Ministries Apostolic Church, Solid Rock Worldwide Ministries and Bountiful Blessings. Being a mobile food pantry, Bountiful Blessings was in attendance to help provide and distribute food to the folks who came.

“We partnered with this wonderful ministry to minister to this area,” said Mechele Hairston of Bountiful Blessings. “Our mission is to make an impact in Hampton Roads communities. We are enjoying this collaboration and are looking to impact other areas of Suffolk with food insecurities.”

Faith Temple Ministries Apostolic Church has been in Suffolk for more than 50 years serving and reaching out to those in need. According to Brown, the church plans another donation event this summer to feed 1,000 families in Suffolk.

“We are here to provide blessings and help during this pandemic,” said Jeanette Ruffin, Faith Temple Ministries Apostolic executive assistant. “We’re just letting the community know we are here with the doors open, and this is our way of showing it.”

The verse used as a theme for this outreach event was James 2:15-16, which talks about meeting the needs of neighbors by actions, not just words.

“If you want to know the heartbeat of God, come out and see what we are doing,” said Elder Larry Conwell, organizer of the event. “True religion is loving on people, giving to meet needs and outreach, and that’s what we do here.”