Sangamon Sun

SPRINGFIELD – The Real Life Church with the motto “We never turn anyone away” has been helping hundreds of families in need during the economic shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The State Journal-Register reports Real Life Church typically provides food for up to 50 families a week, but last has been serving as many as 300 families during the virus crisis.

They're also doing so with fewer volunteers. Because of social distancing guidelines, Real Life is limited to 10 volunteers on any day to help unload food deliveries, wrap them up for distribution, and then get the food out to families.

“We have no problem getting volunteers,” Real Life executive pastor Brian Burris told the newspaper. “Our church’s response, both volunteer-wise and monetarily, we're excited to be able to help somebody, to help people in need and there is no lack of response from our church.”

As need has increased, the church has responded. The church helped the most families it has ever served, 275 families during one week in April, and has continued to meet the challenge. Cars can be seen lining up in front of the church every Tuesday night, waiting to drive around the church’s circle driveway to be met by a volunteer who asks how many people are in their family and how many are children and seniors.

The food packages are distributed in an assembly-line fashion.

Real Life is a partner agency with Central Illinois Food Bank, the organization that supplies the majority of the food items, made possible through money donations from church members. The church’s food drives began five years ago, created by a group of eighth-grade Girl Scouts.

Nicole Flemming coordinates the team of her fellow volunteers and helps distribute food every Tuesday. She also helps take in deliveries from food banks.

“It’s humbling to us to realize we’re able to serve a community on this scale,” Flemming said. “I know the worry each week is whether we’re going to have enough food to give to everyone and we always do. The Lord provides for us in that manner every week. We never have to turn anyone away.”

Real Life is a partner agency with Central Illinois Food Bank, the nonprofit that provides the majority of the church’s food, made possible through money donations from church members.