MADISON, W.Va. (WOWK) — While the pause to SNAP benefits has put many food banks and pantries on their back foot, one Boone County church is doubling down on their commitment to feeding the hungry.

Madison Baptist Church has run a supplemental food pantry right out of their building since 2010 and provided emergency nutrition decades before that. This year they served over 2,000 people in Boone County. 

The church relies heavily on donations and grants from the community to maintain the pantry. On Saturday Air National Guardsmen delivered money from the governor to help support the church’s operation.

Madison Baptist’s pantry facilitator said they will not stop no matter how arduous the task becomes, and while the stoppage does have the church concerned, it’s not over what one might think. 

“I hope the supply chain can stay up,” said Preston Gore, the pantry’s facilitator. “That’s probably as big a worry with me as to how we’re actually going to provide food. Supply chain.”

The food pantry is only a fraction of the church’s generosity. It also runs a free diaper drive that provided 26 Boone County children with diapers this year.

While the stopping of SNAP tests food banks and families alike, Gore said the church will push on with feeding the hungry no matter what adversity they face.

“We’ll do whatever we need to do. We always have and always will,” said Gore, “and God will provide.”