First Baptist Church of Highland donates boatload to food pantry

The congregation at First Baptist Church of Highland have donated a boatload — literally — to the food pantry at Highland Area Christian Services Ministry. The church’s annual food drive is now in its fifth year.

“The idea began several years ago,” explains the Rev. Rob Kirbach, the church’s pastor. “While setting a goal for the church’s annual food drive, someone in the congregation suggested a ‘boatload.’ The congregation embraced the challenge and has been giving a boatload to HACSM every year since.”

In recent years the “boatload” drive focuses on items less-commonly donated, including laundry soap and paper products. According to Teresa Boudouris, food pantry director at HACSM, HACSM did not need to purchase toilet paper for its clients until mid-October this year, due partly because of the church’s 2018 boatload donation — a savings of approximately $1,000 for the food pantry.

“This donation really helps our budget and our clients,” said Boudouris. “As toilet paper is one of the most requested items we distribute.”

Other items collected in the First Baptist Church boatload include personal care and personal hygiene products, in addition to canned and boxed food.

“I’m very happy with the relationship this church has with HACSM,” said Kirbach. “And I’m excited to serve a church that invests so much into the community.”