VIDALIA, La. – The need for free food for the Miss-Lou’s needy residents continues to grow – and Feed the Hungry is expanding to meet that need, said the organization’s executive director.

The nonprofit, which is located next to Vidalia’s First Assembly of God Church on U.S. 84 west of Vidalia, is constructing a 1,260-square-foot storage building next to its current 1,890-square-foot building.

The current building, into which the organization moved in November 1998, houses storage space and a small office for Director Linda Bonnette.

&uot;We get 15,000 pounds of food a month, and we just don’t have room for it all,&uot; Bonnette said.

The addition should be complete in three weeks, given good weather – but rainy weather has delayed the project in recent weeks, Bonnette said.

Next, Bonnette would like to receive enough donations to purchase a walk-in freezer in which to store perishable foods.&160;&uot;We’re just praying that the Lord will bless us,&uot;&160;she said.

At the same time, Feed the Hungry is also expanding in terms of volunteers.

About six to eight people volunteer on a regular basis, but Concordia Christian Outreach Ministries and several local churches also pitch in to distribute food.

On the last Saturday of each month, the ministry distributes 50-pound boxes of food to local residents who line up outside its building.

For more information, call Bonnette at 336-8748 or 336-2428.