Editor’s note: This story is part of a series addressing the issue of food insecurity in Richland County. The series will continue throughout 2017 and feature interviews with those working to mitigate the problem and the obstacles they encounter.

MANSFIELD — A line forms in the parking lot at Mansfield Senior High School. People of all ages gather on a brisk Saturday morning in August, the weather already showing signs of fall.

Ebullient volunteers greet guests as they make their way toward a tent with a sign that reads “WELCOME.”

Creating a welcoming atmosphere is one of the objectives of Matthew 25 Outreach Center‘s monthly produce distributions. It’s through this amiable approach that volunteers are able to bridge connections with people in need, learning more about their lives and how they could potentially provide support through other means — whether that’s connecting them to valuable resources in the area or offering solace during a time of hardship.

M25OC’s desire is to meet some of life’s basic needs, while building trust, creating relationships and sharing God’s love.

Once a month, this nonprofit organization distributes an average of 20,000 pounds of fresh food to local families, about half of which is delivered to people’s homes, according to Jonathan Stufft, M25OC vice president.

“Our ministry, our mission, our call is to get to know people, and oh yeah, by the way, we’re giving them food,” Stufft said with a laugh. “It’s almost like this is the ticket so we can get to know you.”

As guests peruse the piles of produce, volunteers assist by carting their selections in a wagon and wheeling the food to their vehicle.  

“We want to have that time to have conversation and share stories and get to know people,” Stufft said. “We don’t want it to be, ‘Here’s your food in the trunk, get on your way.’ Because for us, it’s really about getting to know them and their stories…

“A part of me cringes when I see that they have to wait in line because we have a new computer system, but at the same time, I can go over there and talk to them for 10 minutes and they can talk to their neighbors.”

With no paid staff, M25OC relies strictly on volunteers to serve the local community. Altogether the organization has approximately 250 volunteers, about 60 of whom help with distributing produce on Saturdays, despite whatever weather conditions they may face and how long it takes — sometimes they help from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. They range in age from 3 to 93 years old.

“Originally this was set up as a school market … but we outgrew that very quickly,” Stufft said.

Produce distributions began in August 2016 at the old St. Matthew Lutheran Church. In January of this year, the orgnization moved to Mansfield Senior.

The event typically takes place the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. See the calendar here. 

“We felt it was really important if we’re serving the Mansfield community that we have to help lift the school up at the same time,” said Jeff Wright, M25OC president.

Wright ran the Bellville Neighborhood Outreach Center for about seven years.

Some people ask why M25OC does what it does.

“Matthew 25 is the answer,” said Wes Kaufman, M25OC treasurer.

Matthew 25:35 from the Bible says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…”

“We believe that Jesus told us to take care of the hungry and so that’s what we’re trying to do,” Kaufman said.

The organization serves an average of 1,300 people each month, distributing about 15 pounds of food per family. Most of the food comes from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

“Oh my, this helps me make it through the month,” said Mansfield resident Marcia Gordon, 72. “I went to the grocery yesterday and just about ran short on money and this is like a gift from God.”

Gordon praised the volunteers, impressed by their kindness.

“Some places can make you feel uncomfortable, but (M25OC) treats you like a person here,” she said. “They don’t make you feel like you have problems, which you really don’t. Social security doesn’t go that far. By the time you pay your bills and everything, there’s not much left.”

M25OC understands that some people would prefer to receive food through its home deliveries. These take place during the Saturday distributions. Three or four trucks transport food to shut-ins, nursing homes, apartment complexes, and other places throughout Mansfield.

“Originally we would just drive up and down the road first few months and we’d say, ‘Hey, we’ve got produce,’ and through that we developed relationships with people,” Stufft said.

Joyce Baker, 55, admitted she was reluctant to come to the produce distributions at first.

“Of course people can be embarrassed to do this, but when I came and saw the great produce that they give out I’m like, ‘This is awesome; I’m going to share this with other people,'” she said. “And that’s what I did. I told my congregation about it.”

For her, produce isn’t hard to come by.

“But when you’re paying all your bills and you have no money left for food, this comes in handy,” she said. “I took an early retirement because of some health issues and my back is out and that is another reason why we have to do this because our income went down.

“I wasn’t able to draw from my retirement when I left because I was too young, so yeah, this helps out a lot.”

M25OC is still in the early stages of its service to the community.

“We certainly would like to have an effect on the community long-term,” Kaufman said. “Food is great — they need it, obviously, but having a watermelon and some lettuce doesn’t change the cycle long-term.”

That’s why M25OC hopes to partner with other local organizations and agencies in order to introduce people to additional resources that can help them live healthy, sustainable lives. 

“Our thing is food,” Kaufman said. “This is what we’re going to concentrate on. We talk a lot about staying in our lane and doing what we’re good at, and that’s why we feel we need to come alongside other organizations.”

Already, M25OC has formed partnerships with many organizations, churches and businesses in the area.  

M25OC has plans to establish a free-choice food pantry in Mansfield. The current goal is locating and acquiring a space to house it.

“We’ve been in touch with the land bank, obviously we don’t have much of a budget,” Stufft said. “We have limited resources and we’re just waiting for God’s timing to work that out the right way.”

To make a donation to Matthew 25 Outreach Center, click here.