Antioch Area Church Makes Biscuits for the Hungry

(Antioch, TN) Like many churches in Nashville, the Antioch United Methodist Church has a long tradition of baking. Throughout the 117 years that the congregation has been in existence, there have been many bake sales and church suppers featuring homemade bread, tasty pies, and of course, flaky and fluffy biscuits. But all the biscuits that have passed through the church ovens pale in comparison with their latest goal -- preparing 20,000 frozen biscuits for the hungry of Middle Tennessee.

The church will be sponsoring its first ever "Frozen Biscuit Drop" on Saturday, April 28 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. On that day, members of the church and other area volunteers will be setting up their own assembly lines to prepare biscuits for freezing and distribution to local hunger agencies. The goal for the day is to prepare and freeze as many as twenty-thousand biscuits, packaged by the dozen in freezer bags. These biscuits will be used by local hunger agencies to help feed persons throughout the mid-state region.

"For several years our church sponsored a "potato drop" where we sorted potatoes for distribution to hunger agencies," said Brian West, Outreach Coordinator for the South Nashville church. "However, in recent years we've had a harder time getting potatoes from potato processors. After some conversations with the leaders of local hunger agencies we came up with making biscuits as a way to assist hungry persons in the area."

"Jesus was clear that his followers have a responsibility to feed the hungry," said Jay Voorhees, pastor of the congregation. "Events like these help us to live out that mandate in tangible ways that go beyond simply giving money. We believe that it is important to get our hands dirty to help others. Getting covered in flour for a day to help the hungry of our area is a small price to pay to ensure that we follow in the way of Jesus."

The congregation is funding this from church funds with some assistance from Purity Dairies.

"We are still looking for some assistance with certain items," said Mr. West. "We especially need commercial sheet pans and rolling racks for the sheet pans for the day for the freezing process.
It would be great if some local congregations or hotels would be willing to donate these items for the day."

Volunteers are welcome to assist with the project. Persons are asked to register via the congregation's web site, www.antiochumc.net, and specify whether they want to work on the morning or afternoon shift. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers.

More information about this event may be obtained at www.antiochumc.net, or by calling the church office at (615) 832-6248. The Antioch United Methodist Church is located at 41 Tusculum Rd., near the corner of Blue Hole and Tusculum Roads.