In the quiet bend of the highway through Hickman County, Tennessee, the community of Nunnelly carries its history close. Named for a family who settled there in the early 1800s, their generosity shaped the town. In 1924, they gave land for a school; in 1939, land for a church — Nunnelly United Methodist Church — which still stands today.
For Wanda Turner, the church has never been just a building. Baptized there at age 12, she now serves as pianist and program contact for the church’s food ministries. Her husband, Steve Turner, leads the singing. Together, they help run a congregation of 30 to 40 members, mostly seniors.
Nunnelly is part of the Duck River Charge, a collaboration of three small rural churches with a shared pastor, Rev. Jim Melrose. Together, they multiply what each could accomplish alone. “By combining the forces of three little active churches,” Wanda explains, “we can get so many things done.”
For decades, Nunnelly has quietly maintained an indoor pantry, helping families identified through local Head Start connections: single parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, seniors on fixed incomes. “If we can find the people who need the help,” Wanda says, “we can provide some resources for them.”
Take what you need. Leave what you can. Above all, be blessed
Three years ago, that outreach expanded with the installation of a Blessing Box near the road, offering food 24 hours a day. “Take what you need. Leave what you can. Above all, be blessed,” the simple sign reads. At first, Wanda admits, she hesitated.
“You wonder — is somebody going to take too much? Are they going to sell the food somewhere?” she recalls. But the church chose trust. “We realized we’re doing our part to help folks,” she says. “We’re providing resources for families and little kids. We just feel like God is going to point them in the right direction.”
The community responded. Grandparents, children helping pick out food, neighbors leaving items of their own. Donations came from locals, former residents, and even a business owner who contributed $500 after noticing the box at Christmas.
“So many people who need help don’t want to ask for help,” Wanda says. “I think it is the anonymity. They can just go to the box, open it up, get what they need and leave.”
That same spirit shapes the church’s Christmas fruit basket ministry. For more than 30 years, volunteers pack fresh fruit for seniors and shut-ins, involving children and adults alike. Wanda emphasizes the two-way blessing.
“The visits are a blessing,” she says. “We are blessed to be taking them as much as they are blessed to receive them.”Partnerships extend the church’s reach. Nunnelly, Bon Aqua and Kedron congregations work together to provide Feed America First distributions, giving hundreds of food boxes in a single morning. Families line up for miles, receiving fresh produce, frozen meats, and pantry staples.
A recent $5,000 grant from ENCORE Ministry Foundation strengthened these efforts, funding the Blessing Box, indoor pantry, grocery gift cards for perishable items, and outreach to older adults and children. “When we found out we got the grant, people just gasped,” Wanda recalls. “They were applauding. They said, ‘Think of the things we can do with this. Think of the people we can help.’”Grant funds also support Vacation Bible School, a collaborative effort of the three churches. Children rotate through music, Bible study, science, and crafts, with meals and snacks provided.
“You can’t teach a child if they’re hungry,” Wanda says. “Feeding them first allows them to learn and have fun. We plant a seed.” Despite a small congregation and an aging membership, Nunnelly’s impact is mighty. Every Blessing Box filled, every fruit basket delivered, every child fed is a testament to a church that measures ministry not in size, but in service.
“We’re a small church,” Wanda says, “but we do mighty works.”
About ENCORE Ministry Foundation
ENCORE Ministry Foundation equips congregations to serve older adults through grants, partnerships, leadership development, and age-friendly church certifications. In 2026, 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.
