A week ago Lincoln Street in Wilmington was filled with hundreds of people receiving free food from the backs of trucks sent to town by the Feed The Children organization.
Now, the trucks are gone and so is most of the food that was distributed.
However, the need remains, which is why miracles still occur behind the doors of the Sugartree Ministry.
The need is growing all the time.
"We feed about 150 to 200 people six-days a week," director Allen Willoughby said Wednesday. "That number is climbing because of the DHL layoffs."
Marjorie Miller arrived at Sugartree with her grandson in her arms and her daughter-in-law at her side.
The Clarksville woman picked up food from the pantry to feed three generations living under one roof.
"It’s embarrassing to come to the pantry, but we do because we need it," she said.
Family members say they don’t know what they would do if Sugartree wasn’t around.
"We’d just have to do without," said Christie Fout. "There ain’t nothing else we can do."
Darin and Marsha Greene sat at one of the small tables with their two-year-old daughter Kelhy as volunteers served them a hot meal.
He’s been out of work 18-months. She’s the mother of their four children.
"We have a large family and so with us being in an hour of work, it’s just really hard to provide for the whole family," she said.
Willoughby said he worried about finding enough food for the meals and pantry before Feed The Children answered his prayers.
Now, Sugartree Ministry is a satellite of the organization.
"If we’re ever in need of lots of food they will send us a truck," he said with a smile. "It’s an awesome relationship."
The Ministry is staff by volunteers from throughout Southwestern Ohio.
James Van Diver, of Ripley, left his job at DHL last June and still hasn’t found a new job. Nonetheless, he still makes the long trip to serve others.
"This is just one way to keep me busy and keep me occupied until I can find a new job," he stated. "It makes me feel good."
Nancy Miller, a member of the Sugartree Ministry advisory board, was behind the kitchen counter Wednesday, on her day off from teaching math at Southern State Community College.
"I get more out of being here than I think they get out of coming," she said.
The kitchen, seating area, pantry and clothing distribution racks are squeezed into areas that are small, cramped and loud.
That situation will be eased a great deal once remodeling is completed on an adjacent space that will seat 300 people for lunches or dinners.
Money for the remodeling work was delivered Tuesday in the form of a $35,000 grant from the Clinton County Foundation.
Ironically, that was part of a $1 million donation DHL made to the community last fall after the announcement was made to end domestic air and ground service in Wilmington.
