TEXARKANA, Texas - While the coronavirus didn't necessarily cause hundreds of cars to line up along Moores Lane Wednesday morning, residual food shortages caused by it, likely did.
With Harvest Texarkana having already conducted food supply operations earlier this year, the organization and First Baptist Church, Texarkana, Texas, decided to partner up and help relieve hunger problems caused by the pandemic.
The partnership did this by conducting a four-hour drive through distribution. The set-up, on one of the church's back parking lots, allowed for at least 50 volunteers to load 1,000 boxes of groceries and fresh produce into vehicles as they drove through the system.
Harvest Texarkana was able to buy and pack the groceries through a donation made through First Baptist's ongoing Operation Jerusalem program, said Harvest Texarkana Executive Director Camille Wrinkle.
"We are very glad that the church gave us their support, to made all this possible - especially since the economy is still feeling the after affects of the coronavirus," she said.
Following an earlier food distribution at the Four States Fairgrounds, First Baptist's Associate Pastor Larry Sims gave Harvest at call, Wrinkle said. "From there that's how this started."
Working the drive-through area was a great way to spend a good-looking early summer morning, said Leon Pesek, one of the volunteers. "I just like having a great opportunity to come out and serve the public."