Several hundred families have something to eat thanks to the efforts of the drive-through food pantry held at Cumberland Presbyterian Church Friday morning.

“We do it because Christ compels us to,” said Isaac Gray, pastor at Cumberland Presbyterian Church that played host to the drive-through food pantry. “We love Jesus. We want to show our community that Jesus loves them. We want to help people in need.”

The event was held as the bitter cold January wind whipped through downtown Smithville, the scores of volunteers bundled in their warmest winter gear as they passed out food to the recipients.

 “People don’t even have to get out of the car,” the pastor said. “They drive through and we put boxes of food in their car, full of breads, vegetables, canned goods, potatoes, fresh fruits, cakes and all kinds of stuff.”

The event is for anyone who has a need. “The only thing we require, and this is through Second Harvest, is we get the name, the city they are from and how many households they are getting for. There are no income requirements.”

Friday’s pantry was sponsored by the TVA but typically Cumberland Presbyterian sponsors. The events are generally held twice a year.

“Typically we feed around 700 people,” he said. “That’s 300-something families.”

Around 60 people, many from the church, braved the cold to volunteer to help coordinate and hand out food for the event, including some from the nearby Sober Living facility.

“We will keeping loading cars until we’re out of food or people in line,” Gray said, noting the line of cars spanned well over a quarter-mile at points during the event. “Usually it ends up just about right.”