New food pantry opens in Decatur

— United Christian Ministries opened a food pantry in Decatur last week.

The food pantry is located at 307 North Main Street, across the street from the Decatur State Bank. It will provide assistance to people in northwest Arkansas as well as the surrounding area, according to Tina Holt, who helps organize the ministry, along with members of her congregation.

Holt explained that United Christian Ministries is a disaster relief ministry that operates under the New Wine Ministry Church in Bella Vista, pastored by Vincent and Patricia Xavier.

“We want to feed the inward and outward man,” Holt said.

The ministry is working with the Arkansas Food Bank and the Arkansas Rice Depot, but also receives donations from local businesses and other organizations to provide for those in need, Holt said.

United Christian Ministries has also been working to renovate its Main Street location, adding a new floor and fresh coats of paint to the inside of the small building. In addition to the food pantry, the ministry has warehouses for food storage in the Decatur area, Holt said.

The ministry is in need of donations of freezers,refrigerators, food, and money for trucks and trailers to haul food, according to Kay Bender, who also helps with the food bank.

“The more hard supplies we have, the more soft supplies we can have and the more people we can help,” she explained.

The food pantry will be open from 9 a.m.

until noon, Monday and Wednesday and can be reached by calling 435-5699. The organization is in the process of building a website, www.unitedchristianministries.com, which will have more information posted in the near future.

“My goal is to have such a great food pantry, everyone will come,” Holt said.

News, Pages 8 on 11/07/2012