DOWAGIAC — During an unusually warm fall day Tuesday, individuals lined up behind a large food truck to receive supplies that would help them and their families get through the week.

A Feed the Hungry mobile food pantry visited First Christian Church, 201 Oak St., Tuesday. The Feed the Hungry food truck operates as a mobile food pantry for those in need in Cass County. The truck was funded through the C. Wimberley Automotive’s Feed the Hungry campaign, which raises money annually to pay for food items to help feed Cass County families throughout the following year. The program is run through ACTION Ministries to coordinate the truck to visit area churches throughout the year.

Though the Feed the Hungry program will continue in Cass County until the end of November, Tuesday was the final time the truck would visit First Christian Church in 2018. At the distribution, the truck served 64 families.

Those who volunteered to help with food distribution Tuesday said they have seen the good the Feed the Hungry program has done in Dowagiac and that they were happy to volunteer their time to help with it.

“There is such a need for so many people,” said Suzy Krueger, a volunteer with First Christian Church. “This helps so many people.”

Karen Benedix, with ACTION Ministries, agreed.

“The need is there,” she said. “There are a lot of hungry people in Dowagiac. There are a lot of unemployed or underemployed people, a lot of disabled people who need the help. We just want to feed the hungry people. I hate to see somebody go hungry. There is just no need for that, because we have so much.”

Krueger said the Feed the Hungry truck was an asset to the people of Dowagiac, as even though the church has a food pantry of its own, the Feed the Hungry truck can offer more fresh produce and seasonal items to those who need it most.

“We are very grateful to have to work with them,” she said.

Though Tuesday’s distribution was the final one at First Christian Church for the year, both Benedix and Krueger said they are looking forward to seeing the truck back at First Christian Church next year, adding that all the planning and work that goes into bringing the truck to Cass County was worth it to them.

“I think this is important, and we have plans to continue this,” Krueger said. “We want to reach as many people as we can.”