Community effort provides food to 150 families in Terrell County

DAWSON — Raine’s Baptist Church continued its community outreach Wednesday with a free food giveaway at the church, providing groceries to area residents while supplies lasted.

The Aug. 12 distribution at 577 Orange St. NE was sponsored by Feeding the Valley and was part of a broader ministry through which Pastor Raymond Andrews and church volunteers regularly distribute food, household supplies and other donated goods at no cost.

Members of the Terrell County Fire Department also volunteered during the giveaway, assisting Raine’s Baptist volunteers with the community event and helping distribute food and other items to residents.

Andrews estimated about 150 people came through Wednesday morning, with additional residents continuing to stop by after the initial distribution. He said previous giveaways have drawn as many as 300 people.

The church also serves as a Terrell County partner for World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization that provides donated merchandise for distribution in communities. Andrews said the partnership allows the church to receive items ranging from household and sanitation supplies to building materials, with the requirement that donated goods cannot be sold.

“We share,” Andrews said, explaining that donations are not limited to individual families. The church also passes available supplies along to schools, nursing homes and other community organizations.

Recent donations have included light bulbs, cleaning and sanitation products, toys, roofing materials and other goods. Andrews said World Vision’s donations are particularly valuable because the organization provides quality merchandise that can be put directly into the hands of people and organizations that need it.

For Andrews, getting those resources into the community is the point.

The church’s outreach efforts are ongoing, with additional food giveaways and distributions of donated goods planned as supplies become available. Upcoming events and available items will be announced through social media and The Dawson News to help connect resources with Terrell County residents and organizations that can use them.