On the third Thursday of every month in Lafayette, Tennessee, cars begin lining up hours before the doors open at Lafayette United Methodist Church. Some arrive early because they’ve been before. Others come because they’re unsure if there will be enough. Many wait quietly—not just for food, but for reassurance that they are not alone.
Inside, volunteers are already moving. Freezers open and close. Boxes are packed. Conversations drift between updates about doctor visits, grandchildren, and daily life. What happens here isn’t just a food pantry—it’s a ministry built on connection.
Lafayette United Methodist Church is a small congregation of about fifty people on Sunday mornings, most of them older adults and lifelong members. Yet nearly two-thirds are involved in the food pantry in some way. What began as a simple idea has become the heart of the church’s mission.
The ministry began in 2019 with a Boy Scout project that helped launch the pantry. When it was ready to open, COVID delayed everything. But in 2021, when the doors finally opened, the need was immediate. What started with a handful of canned goods quickly grew into a ministry now serving more than one hundred families each month—and sometimes nearly two hundred.
The philosophy is simple: no forms, no requirements.
“If you’re here, we’re going to feed you,” said Eugene Martino, Jr., pastor for the ministry.
Each box is prepared with care. Protein, vegetables, and pantry staples form the foundation, but everything is adjusted based on need. Families, older adults, and those without cooking access all receive what works for them. Even those experiencing homelessness receive kits designed to help them safely prepare food.
Volunteers gather early in the week to unload and organize thousands of pounds of food. On distribution day, people begin lining up hours in advance. Many are older adults living on fixed incomes, often supporting grandchildren or extended family. Others come during a temporary hardship and later step away once they regain stability.
Over time, the pantry has become more than a place for food—it has become a place of belonging.
There was a gentleman who told us he had been eating out of a dumpster ... That’s exactly what we’re trying to prevent.
“There was a gentleman who told us he had been eating out of a dumpster,” Martino said. “That’s exactly what we’re trying to prevent.”
Other stories stay with volunteers: a woman who returned after months of help to insist on giving a $20 bill, or an elderly man battling cancer who continued coming not just for food, but for connection with people who had become like family. When he passed away, his family shared how much those visits had meant.
For volunteers, these moments define the work.
As the ministry expanded, so did its challenges. Storage quickly became the biggest obstacle. What began with one refrigerator grew into multiple freezers, eventually pushing the limits of the building’s electrical system. The church reached a point where growth was no longer just about demand—it was about capacity.
That’s where ENCORE Ministry Foundation made a transformative difference.
Through the ENCORE Ministry Foundation Food Security grant, Lafayette United Methodist Church is upgrading to a walk-in cooler and freezer. This shift allows the church to safely store more food, accept larger donations, and serve more families without constant strain on space or equipment.
“The biggest challenge has been storage,” Martino said. “This grant is helping us solve that so we can keep doing what we’re called to do.”
The impact has been immediate. Instead of worrying about space or spoilage, volunteers can focus fully on people. What once limited the ministry has now become a pathway for growth.
The reach of the pantry continues to expand. Word has spread across counties. Volunteers come from outside the congregation. Donations arrive from unexpected places. When there is extra, food is shared with nearby communities in need.
Still, the mission remains simple.
“The goal was not to bring them to church,” Martino said. “The goal was to feed them.”
Looking ahead, the church knows there is more it could do, but volunteer capacity sets the limit. Even so, commitment remains steady.
“All we can do is all we can do,” Martino said. “And we’re going to do it the best we can.”
With the support of ENCORE Ministry Foundation, they now have the tools to continue that work more safely and effectively. Because in Lafayette, this ministry is about more than food—it is about showing up, building relationships, and offering hope, one box at a time.
About ENCORE Ministry Foundation
ENCORE Ministry Foundation equips congregations to serve older adults through grants, partnerships, leadership development, and age-friendly church certifications. In 2025, the foundation awarded $100,000 to 20 churches through the Kent and Ellen McNish Food Security Grant, supporting food distribution ministries for older adults facing hunger.
To learn more or support the Food Security Fund, visit encoreministry.org or contact Executive Director John Rivas at.
