25 Years of Faith, Food, and Community

Mary Beth Sallee

Editor

Hart Co. News-Herald

 

On the third Friday of each month, before most people have had their first cup of coffee and long before the first car pulls into line at Munfordville Baptist Church, a group of volunteers quietly begin their work – lifting boxes, packing bags of food, and preparing to serve.

For the past 25 years, From the Abundance of the Hart Food Bank has embodied what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Rooted in faith and driven by a calling to care for others, the food bank has become more than just a place to get groceries. It’s become a lifeline, a ministry, and a reflection of what it truly means to love your neighbor.

“It’s about the Great Commission that Jesus told us: to go into the world and preach the Gospel,” said Pastor Phillip Trent, who has served as the food bank’s director since 2009. “A lot of Gospel can be preached with acts…It’s your actions that talk louder than your words most of the time. It’s about loving the people.”

It all began in July of 2000 when a group of concerned and like-minded Hart Countians decided that no one in their community should go hungry – and thus From the Abundance of the Hart was born. At the helm at that time was Lynn Long, the food bank’s first director. She faithfully led the effort to distribute food across the county until her passing in 2009, her legacy living on in every bag of groceries handed out and every life touched.

After Long’s passing, Pastor Phillip Trent, who had already been a board member and passionate supporter, stepped in to assume the position of director. Under his guidance, the food bank didn’t just continue. It grew.

“I’m just thankful that the Lord let me be raised and do ministry in my home community,” Pastor Trent shared. “I’ve been here all my life. I was born at home in the front bedroom of a farmhouse there in the Legrande area and been able to be here and minister all my life. It’s just a blessing to be able to stay in the community…I’m just thrilled to be in Hart County. I think it’s the best place in the world to live.”

In June of this year, the food bank reached a staggering milestone: a total of 5 million pounds of food distributed to families in Hart County over the past 25 years. But that number represents more than just meals. That number tells the story of faith in action, of volunteers who brave rain, heat, and freezing temperatures to ensure no neighbor goes without.

“God has been good to us and has helped us through some rough times,” said Pastor Trent’s wife, Linda Trent. “From hot days, freezing days, raining days, windy days, spilling a pallet of milk because of a flat tire day. Through it all, God has been faithful.”

From the Abundance of the Hart Food Bank, partners with Feeding America through Elizabethtown. On the third Friday of each month, food is distributed to qualifying families outside the gymnasium of Munfordville Baptist Church. The food varies month to month, but often includes fresh vegetables, fruit, non-perishable items, milk, and more.

Although the organization’s faith is at the center of it all, so is its support system.

From the Abundance of the Hart Food Bank receives support from six Hart County churches, who contribute monthly. Munfordville Baptist Church has graciously opened its doors to host food distributions. Hart County High School allows a different club to come help offload and bag food when school is in session, teaching students the value of service in action.

“I always tell the young people before I pray – we bag the food and get it ready for distribution, then we have prayer – and I always tell the children, ‘What you’re doing is you’re sowing into your future,’” Pastor Trent said. “‘Hopefully, you’ll never be a person that’s food deficit. But you have done the right thing for your life in the future because what you sow, you’ll grow.’ It’s just a good teaching tool for the young people as well.”

Linda shared that local media, including WLOC Radio and the Hart County News-Herald, promote the monthly food days free of charge. Additionally, local government leaders, including the county Judge Executive, magistrates, and the Munfordville Mayor, have been consistent allies, Linda shared.

But it’s the volunteers – the unsung heroes – who keep the heart of the food bank beating. They don’t do it for recognition. They do it because they’ve seen the need. They do it because they care.

“(We have) an awesome group of volunteers who work tirelessly to complete the task at hand and have a heart to help people,” Linda said.

“It’s been a good outreach for us,” said Pastor Trent. “We have churches that support us monthly, regularly, so we’re an extension of all of them, not just ourselves. Then we have volunteers from all over the county to come, and it’s just been a beautiful work, a labor of love for all of us.”

It is Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-40 that serve as a guiding principle for the food bank: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

“Jesus said, ‘When you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it to me,’” Pastor Trent said. “So when we go out and help people, we feel like we’re fulfilling a part of the Great Commission.”

With 25 years in, the mission of From the Abundance of the Hart Food Bank remains simple: serve the people of Hart County with compassion and love. Every act of service is another opportunity to feed not just bodies, but souls.

Five million pounds down. Countless lives lifted. And still, the work continues to ensure that in every carton, can, and bag of food, the people of Hart County are reminded that they are seen, valued, and never forgotten.