BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
TURKEY CREEK — Amid the echoing reminders of a global pandemic, a local church has risen to provide for the needs of its community. The Turkey Creek Church of the Nazarene is set to inaugurate its new food pantry, named “His Place Pantry,” Sept. 16 to serve the residents of Martin County.
Establishing His Place Pantry is the culmination of Pastor Derek Catron’s vision that dates back to 2021. With the easing of the pandemic and the resumption of in-person church services, Catron felt a divine call to serve beyond the church walls.
“I prayed for God to show us our greater purpose,” Catron expressed. The answer he received was clear: “Grow a garden and start a food pantry.”
Thanks to help from the University of Kentucky through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant program, they did that.
The church established His Garden in 2022, conducting several produce distributions of beans, potatoes, corn and other vegetables in the first summer.
Catron, a self-described “city slicker,” had little gardening knowledge.
“Thankfully, we were blessed with several in our congregation that had farmed and raised gardens for years,” said the pastor. “Thanks to their expertise and willingness to teach this city boy how to raise food from seeds and small plants, we were blessed to provide a variety of fresh vegetables to families from His Garden.”
Under the congregation’s care, His Garden flourished and now celebrates its second year of bountiful production.
To fulfill the second part of the church’s food ministry plan, Catron again sought the University of Kentucky and the CDC grant for seed money to purchase a deep freezer, refrigerator, shelving and other items for His Place Pantry.
“The food items we will be giving out on the third Saturday of each month have been donated by our church members,” remarked Catron. “Examples of what we will have include perishable foods such as bags of frozen chicken nuggets, corndogs, french fries and hamburger patties. Nonperishable items include cereal, canned vegetables and fruit, oatmeal, soups, beans, macaroni and cheese, and more.”
The pantry will be open the third Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning Sept. 16.
The church will serve free lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every time. Catron will deliver a short devotional during lunch as a reminder of God’s love and the difference He can make in people’s lives.
His Place Pantry will feature a station where youngsters can play video games, watch movies, use coloring sheets, and do other activities while their parents shop.
“We’re doing our best to make it as user-friendly and easy as we can. We just want to help people and show them God loves them,” said Catron.
To shop at the pantry, residents need only to provide their names and the number of people living in their households.
Catron and the church welcome all organizations, businesses and individuals to contribute food items to His Place Pantry. They also welcome monetary donations to use solely for the pantry. Interested parties can drop off donations during the week as, generally, someone is at the church. Donors can also call Catron and schedule an appointment at 606-471-0791.
“The purpose of this food pantry and the CDC grant is to eliminate food insecurities with the people of Martin County and to be a light to those who need encouragement, support and love,” said Catron. “Our mission statement is ‘Serving the people of Turkey Creek, Calf Creek, State Route 292 and beyond,’ and that’s exactly what we are striving to do. We prayed, God answered, and we obeyed.”
Residents can find His Place Pantry at 1632 Tug River Road in Inez.