Hampton County church gives out nearly 5,000 meals ahead of Thanksgiving

HAMPTON COUNTY, SC. (WTOC) - One group in Hampton County is stepping up to help the community, giving out nearly 5,000 meals ahead of Thanksgiving.

This marks the 17th year they’ve done this.

That group is Open Arms Fellowship, a church out of Hampton, which started out the first year by giving out about 300 meals.

With partnerships from other churches and other communities over the years, the ministry that feeds those in need every Thanksgiving has grown tenfold.

From Tuesday night through Wednesday, volunteers gathered at the old skating rink in Varnville to help.

“We couldn’t do it without them, and we walk by faith. We don’t do pre-sign up, we really count on who is going to show up at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., or 7 a.m., and God always moves on people to be here,” Lead Pastor of Open Arms Fellowship, James Porter said.

Everything from pulling the meat off of turkeys to building plates to then loading them into vehicles.

Each year, 4,600 meals are distributed, but the group makes 5,000 just in case the need grows.

The giving starts early on Wednesday when churches from neighboring counties pick up meals to take to their communities.

Later in the day, Hampton County residents stop by to pick up a plate or two.

Lead Pastor James Porter says that he is blessed by the partnerships that have formed through this annual event and is happy to see that they all have a common mission.

“Our whole goal is to let people know that Jesus loves them and he died on the cross for them. So, if we can do that through a plate of food or any other act of service we do. We have been blessed to have been able to do it through food,” said Porter.

To go along with the annual event, Porter says that his church also serves about 200 to 300 meals twice a week to the community, and if someone is interested in volunteering at one of those giveaways, all they have to do is show up ready to serve.