Bell-Yeager Free Will Baptist Church has been a staple in the neighborhood for over 46 years. We are well known as that little Church on the hill, right across the street from the Cornwallis Housing Complex.
Our commitment to the neighborhood over the years has been twofold, to save souls and to provide the much needed resources and services that builds, strengthens and restores our neighborhood and its residents.
We recognized that our neighbors, many of whom were experiencing food insecurity, lacked enough nutritional foods to feed their families. Therefore, in 2017 we re-instated our food pantry and partnered with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina-Durham to make available food sources that would help put food on the table for those who need it.
Prior to COVID-19, we served over 1019 families the first 3 months of 2020 through our food pantry. Almost a year after the COVID-19 pandemic 6, 928 households and 16, 415 persons have received food.
Many of our neighbors are facing a difficult realization, not being able to afford food for their family, and having to receive assistance for the first time. The changes in the economy, lay-offs and business closures have limited the incomes of many, making it difficult to provide adequate nutrition for their family.
We are serving more people now than we did this same time last year and we are during our part to ensure our neighbors impacted by this crisis have the food needed to feed their families.
We’ve realized the higher level of need, and we are working with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC and other community partners to ensure that our neighbors facing hunger have the food they need to keep themselves healthy during these uncertain times.
We need your help and have volunteer opportunities available NOW!
Before the pandemic, our pantry operated successfully with small number volunteers each week. Since COVID-19, volunteer numbers are down, but the need is even higher, as many of our regular volunteers are in the high-risk category and are staying home. There are a number of ways in which you can help – Sorting and packing bags for distribution, help with our drive –thru and no-contact food distribution and you can donate monetarily or in-kind.
