Local church brings food pantry, community center to Jonesville

“It’s really been a faith journey for us. It’s really amazing.”

Pastor Marty Ethridge, of the Mission Apostolic Church, believes the possibilities are truly endless as he and his wife rally with the Jonesville community to bring the city’s first-ever food pantry and monthly fresh-food giveaway to town.

The Jonesville Mission, a newly formed 501(c)3, first met with the city of Jonesville in September about community needs and is holding their first monthly fresh-food giveaway in partnership with South Michigan Food Bank from 4-5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at G Carl Fast Park in Jonesville.

While the monthly fresh food giveaway gets underway, Ethridge is busily working on repairs to a building he will soon operate out of located at 501 Olds St., next door to Martinrea, which will feature a food pantry to begin with and services expanding as the Mission continues to grow.

The building will also host Bible studies beginning in January.

The location formerly served as a gym and has three racquetball courts which Ethridge hopes to have operational around the beginning of the year for youth to enjoy.

Ethridge said the work being done is through the Missions America Adopt a City program and that he and his wife, the co-founder of Jonesville Mission, are partnering with local businesses and people in the community to provide a range of services to those in need, whether it be assistance with budgeting, youth services, spiritual counseling, etc.

“We have a lot of local people wanting to partner with us on some things,” Ethridge said. “In a very short time, a lot of things have opened up for us and we are grateful.”

The Jonesville Mission can be found on Facebook or online at https://www.thejonesvillemission.org.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Mission Apostolic Church brings food pantry to Jonesville