New Albany First Baptist providing 500 free meals a day to students

Members of First Baptist Church in New Albany have seen one of the restrictions imposed because of the threat of COVID-19 as an opportunity to share their ministry.

“When we heard about the school closings we knew there would be kids without nutritional food in the area,” Senior Pastor Andrew Chesteen said. “Parents responded quickly and everybody jumped right in.”

One of the lunches

The initial plan is to provide 500 sack lunches free to students each day this week. The meals are available at the Family Life Center on Main Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.

The meals are being paid for through the church’s Acts I:8 mission fund. Chesteen said donations would be accepted if anyone wishes and if the program needs to be continued past this week they may communicate with other churches as well (school officials later announced classes would be cancelled for a second week).

Volunteers waiting to sign families in

Most meals Monday were being picked up by parents or other adults. They were welcomed at the door, asked to register, given a choice of sandwiches with meals and invited to pray with the minister.

Packing the meals took part of Sunday and early Monday. “There were more volunteers than I could have imagined,” the pastor said.

The giveaway is planned to continue through this Friday for now. Anyone with questions may call the church office at 662-534-5812.

“This is just an expression of God’s love to our community,” Chesteen said.

Mary Mathis, left, and Senior Pastor Andrew Chasteen pray with one of the parents who came to pick up a meal