Creative Services

Tithing at church is one thing, writing a check to help others is also noble. But if you really want your business to be blessed, your most valuable commodity is what needs to be shared. Your time!

Food From The Heart is our example of what can be done when you shift your focus onto the local community. Eight years ago, Greg Weinstein created a method of collecting food that maximized the return on the efforts of those that served. The hungry and homeless population is quickly becoming a huge area of need across the country. 

Food From The Heart seeks to provide direct assistance to those groups already in place, serving those less fortunate.

Recently, in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, First Baptist North Spartanburg Church was led by Greg to meet the needs locally. Saturday July 19th was the day of the food drive that collected over 30 Tons of food. See story below...

Church gives tons of food to nonprofits

Published: Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 3:15 a.m. Last Modified: Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 9:54 a.m.

About 500 members of First Baptist North Spartanburg collected roughly 15 to 20 tons of food and other items Saturday, helping replenish the shelves of area shelters and pantries during a time of great need.

First Baptist North Spartanburg held a food drive Saturday. Clockwise from left are Joshua, Tom and Matthew King, Caroline Comer and Emily Blackwell.

Al Phillips, associate pastor of the church, said volunteers stationed themselves outside every Ingles Market and Food Lion in the county, in addition to six Bi-Lo locations and other grocery stores, helping cover nearly the whole county.

"It's been a really remarkable day," Phillips said, adding the group was still waiting on a few more truckloads to come in Saturday night.

He said church members would help sort through all the items collected this week, making sure the goods get to the appropriate locations.

On Saturday night, Phillips helped make a delivery to the Carolina Pregnancy Center, where two full trailers and a truckload were being deposited.

Alexia Newman, executive director of the center, called the special delivery a "blessing."

"We are ecstatic," she said. "We're just stocked for a long time."

"Spartanburg is just such a giving community."

From 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. or so, volunteers from the church stood outside 24 area grocery stores, handing out shopping lists and bags.

The collected food will benefit the Carolina Pregnancy Center, Miracle Hill Mission, Greater Spartanburg Ministries and Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, according to a news statement.