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Current U. S. inflation spikes have put a strain on the ability of many individuals to purchase quality meat products for their family. Beacon Hill Missionary Baptist Church (BHMBC), with a more than 40-year ministry in Herndon, Virginia, decided they could make a difference in their community. The church made a connection with House of Raeford Farms in 2020 as a charitable benefactor in the company’s online preorder chicken sale held in Herndon. This became a springboard to carry the outreach to a new level.
Through Fairfax County, Virginia, BHMBC applied for a Federal grant as part of the Food Access Program of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. The county was seeking to ensure that the local food system remained stable and sustainable during recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It was determined that faith-based organizations could play an important part in attaining that goal.
“Beacon Hill Church loves to ‘let our light so shine’, by serving the community and the world! When there’s a need, we want to plant God’s-Loving-Seed,” shared Ralph C. Duke, senior pastor.
As a result, Beacon Hill received a grant targeted specifically for direct food assistance. Originally, the church hoped to purchase 32,000 pounds of farm fresh chicken. Due to the previous relationship with Beacon Hill, House of Raeford stepped up and provided a deep discount on their product, allowing the church to increase their commitment to 40,000 pounds or nearly 100,000 meals.
For over 20 years, BHMBC has operated a food pantry in partnership with Christ Fellowship Church of Herndon to provide free groceries to the community through “Windows to Heaven Food Pantry”. By linking with approximately 40 additional ministries operating food pantries in northern Virginia, BHMBC was able to extend the chicken distribution to many more food insecure and economically challenged families.
On Saturday, August 6 at BHMBC, both food pantry organizations as well as pre-registered individual families received the free chicken. A drive-thru process allowed individuals to remain in their vehicles while volunteers loaded the 40-pound cases of chicken from the House of Raeford refrigerated trailer.
“One of the pillars of House of Raeford’s nonprofit organization FLOCK is to meet the needs of hungry people,” said Dave Witter, FLOCK board member. “We see Beacon Hill’s passion of helping their neighbors to be in harmony with FLOCK’s mission of supporting those who are making a positive impact in their communities.”
