VIDALIA, La. — For the Hancock family of Vidalia, volunteering is a family affair. Theresa Hancock, daughter Lori Johnson, 16; and son Rick Hancock, 12, all volunteer with Feed the Hungry — a feeding ministry of their church, Vidalia First Assembly of God — as much as their busy work and school schedules will allow.

&uot;Whatever I&160;leap into, they leap in right along with me,&uot; Theresa Hancock said.

Theresa works as a construction inspector for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development; Lori and Rick attend Vidalia High and Vidalia Junior High, respectively.

But on the last Saturday of each month, they work all day at Feed the Hungry’s office on U.S. 84 near Vidalia, loading cardboard boxes full of food and distributing them to those in need.

&uot;I just love the people&uot; that line up Saturday morning to pick up their boxes of food,&160;Lori said. &uot;Everyone is just so nice.&uot;

&uot;Meeting everyone is the best part,&uot;&160;Rick added.

Whenever they can, they also help collect money for the charity at busy intersections throughout Ferriday and Vidalia and help sort donated food at the office.

After school Thursday, the whole family was helping Director Linda Bonnette sort 2,230 pounds of food collected recently by the U.S. Postal Service.

Lori was recently named the charity’s computer operator, which puts her in charge of typing in and organizing information about Feed the Hungry’s clients.

Rick, on the other hand, classifies himself as a &uot;laborer,&uot;&160;helping volunteers and inmates from the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility carry boxes of food to recipients’ cars.

And Theresa believes in the cause so much that she has given her two weeks’ notice at her job in order to serve Feed the Hungry for free, full time.

&uot;I&160;don’t know yet whether the Lord will lead me to get a part-time job yet or not,&uot;&160;she said. &uot;I do know that the Lord will provide for us.&uot;

When they’re not working at Feed the Hungry, the family also volunteers at local nursing homes, conducting worship services for residents.