Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
For more than 30 years, the First Baptist Church of Gray Gables has quietly served the community through its ministry known as “The Cup.”
With the growth in food resources in western Nassau County, Gray Gables has made the switch from a food pantry to non-edible items such as toiletries and other necessities not covered by government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Leaders of the program say it’s a change designed to meet needs that often get overlooked.
“We see a need for these kinds of items in the community, and we want to be able to give that away,” Gray Gables Associate Pastor Justin Hartzell said.
The decision to make the switch was backed by surveys asking people what is most needed in the community. Gray Gables Financial Secretary Libby Kast said the school system had even notified the program multiple times of students lacking these necessities.
“If your children are in need of these items, then we know that’s the whole household,” she said.
“The Cup” is open on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The next opening is Monday, located at the brick church office building next to the church and playground. Anyone is welcome to stop and get supplies once a month. Volunteers greet visitors at the door, gather basic information about household size, and then provide a bag of supplies tailored to their needs.
“It’s not one size fits all,” Hartzell said. “We want to be able to adjust, and I’m so thankful for our team that has kind of put together a system that helps give us the flexibility to be able to really care for people in the way they need it most.”
The interaction doesn’t end there.
“I can talk to people. I can pray with them. I can tell them about Jesus, and walk through a gospel track with someone,” Hartzell said.
Bags are numbered for efficiency, “1-3” for smaller households and “4+” for larger families. Hygiene products are distributed individually, so no one has to share. Volunteers also keep smaller, travel-friendly food packs on hand for people who are homeless or living in vehicles.
The name of the ministry is inspired by the Scripture in Mark 9:41, which reads, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
For volunteer Priscilla Irwin, “The Cup” is about more than the items in the bags.
“I can think of four or five people right now on my prayer list because they come in here a lot and we get to catch up and encourage,” she said.
Running the ministry is a team effort, with three to four volunteers serving each distribution day. Supplies come entirely from donations, which come from both church members and the community.
“We’re a small church,” Hartzell said. “We’re not rich. But God has given us enough for ourselves and enough to give away.”
Gray Gables is located at 54031 Church Road, Callahan, and to contact the church, call 904-879-2986. For more information, visit www.graygables.org.
“That’s how God is building his kingdom,” Hartzell said. “Through his people doing what He’s commanding them to do, trusting that He’s gonna help them do that and be with them as they do it.”
reporter@nassaucountyrecord.com