March 21, 2021
Nearly two dozen members of Mount Airy’s Calvary Baptist Church recently gathered for what might seem like a peculiar purpose — to separate and distribute 22,000 pounds of sweet potatoes.
The work was part of an informal association the church has with the Society of St. Andrews, a Big Island, Virginia-based ministry which aims to supply food to needy families.
Rev. Alex Martin, better known as Pastor Alex to his parishioners at Calvary Baptist, said his church has been affiliated with the ministry for several years.
“The Society of St. Andrews works with farmers to glean their fields and to rescue sometimes imperfect produce that otherwise might go to waste and to try to get it into the hands of organizations that can distribute it to those in need,” he said.