Historic Black Church Provided Food to Citizens of Baton Rouge that are Struggling From the Pandemic
Mount Zion First Baptist Church gave away food to Baton Rouge residents the entire month of July. (Picture by Lara Harrison)
Mount Zion First Baptist Church, the oldest Black church in the city, is helping with the food shortage in the Baton Rouge community by feeding families affected by the coronavirus. According to the Louisiana Health Connect, the pandemic has to lead to an increasing demand for Louisiana's food banks. Organizations like Feeding Louisiana, a nonprofit dedicated to providing relief to hunger and food insecurity, have been fighting to provide food for families in need.
COVID-19 has hit multiple families financially, where workers are becoming unemployed throughout the state. According to a report completed at the University of Lafayette, 21% of Baton Rouge citizens are without jobs due to the pandemic. And with the unemployment checks expiring on July 30, many families are figuring out how to make ends meet and help their loved ones stay afloat.
The President of the Fourth District Baptist Association and the Pastor of Mount Zion First Baptist Church, Reverend Dr. Rene Brown, saw this issue and decided to put together a giveaway for the community to help those struggling during the pandemic.
“I leaned on Matthew 25:35, where it states, ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.’ I wanted to feed the community and help those in need,” said Pastor Brown.
People drove in cars, rode on bikes and walked to pick up their boxes. (Picture by Lara Harrison)
The Pastor partnered with the Fourth District Baptist Association to pass out boxes of fresh produce for the community that contained fruits and vegetables, carrots, Pinto beans, potatoes, and a bag of garlic.
One of the members of Fourth District LaChondria Holder, agreed with Pastor Brown in wanting to help feed the community and to do good for God’s people.
“I like to assist others and doing ministry work at the church,” said Holder. “Volunteering gives me great fulfillment. I believe that God put us here to help and do for others."
People all over the downtown area of Baton Rouge either drove, biked or walked to the church to get their boxes.
The church's usher Marcus Coleman loved being able to help the community in need at such a historic church. Mount Zion has advocated for nonviolent protests and was also the blueprint for the bus boycott.
"Mount Zion has been the heart and soul of the community, especially the Black community, for 162 years. So, when they called me for help, I answered," Coleman said.
The church held the giveaway for the whole month of July. The church’s next community service will be providing food for the international students who attend Louisiana State University. They ordered an extra 200 boxes for the students because the members want to help those who cannot return home to their countries because of the travel restrictions due to the pandemic.
For more information about the church and their giveaways, click here.