NATCHEZ &045;&045; Stories she hears convince Theresa Beach that a food pantry she oversees is important to the families who visit it each month. Calls for help from people who learn about the benevolence make clear how widespread the needs are in her community.

Beach, who founded the food pantry at First Assembly of God, 150 Liberty Road, gave a recent example. The caller lacked more than just food.

&uot;She called to say she had nothing to eat, no refrigerator, no stove. She has a cot, a couch and a TV. She’s 56 and battling cancer, living alone with no family and no income. She’s too young to get senior citizen help,&uot; Beach said. &uot;It’s bad. But I know there’s nothing too big for God to fix.&uot;

With the help of other church members, Beach opened the food pantry in February 2001. At first, about 10 to 15 families came to accept the boxes filled with juice, canned vegetables and fruits, crackers and staples such as rice, beans and soups.

Today, about 300 families partake of the food, which is provided through donations from church members, from fund raisers and from local businesses. Food comes twice monthly from the Mississippi Food Network, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

&uot;What I get is not enough,&uot; Beach said. &uot;I’m trying to figure out how to get other churches to help. Some already have, providing a little extra food for the pantry.&uot;

Beach cited other help provided throughout the area by other churches, where assistance includes help with utility bills, medicines and also with food at pantries similar to the First Assembly pantry.

The integrity of those who come to the food pantry has impressed her. &uot;They tell me they wait until they run out of food they got somewhere else before coming back to me,&uot; she said.

The need is growing, however, especially among the elderly. &uot;These are the ones who get me,&uot; she said. &uot;They come here by Natchez Transit or a next-door neighbor will bring them,&uot; she said. &uot;I have one 95-year-old man, and I always ask him if he needs help carrying the box. He smiles and tells me, ‘no ma’am; I can do it.’&uot;

Wal-Mart has helped, she said. Natchez Market saves milk boxes to use for boxing the food. &uot;And Barry Loy of Natchez Market gave us an ice cooler to keep the food cool.&uot;

She appreciates all the help and continues to look for new sources. &uot;If I could get just-before-out-of-date milk, that would be wonderful; anything I can find,&uot; she said. &uot;I know God finds a way to send people to us with the need.&uot;

Many of the people who frequent the pantry are living on $554 a month. &uot;They pay everything from that,&uot; Beach said.

The food pantry has led to personal relationships with many of the people who come regularly, she said. &uot;I know my people by name. We pray with them. It’s personal, and I believe in that,&uot; she said.

&uot;The Good Samaritan was personal. He got involved. Jesus was personal. He was compassionate. That’s what I’m striving to attain,&uot; she said.