First Baptist Hendersonville takes on Sumner County's food bank as James Gill era ends

Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read
Sumner County Food Bank Director James Gill in 2013 welcomes a crowd of volunteers, elected officials and members of the community to the ribbon cutting for the mission’s new 12,000-square-foot warehouse in Gallatin.
Sumner County Food Bank Director James Gill in 2013 welcomes a crowd of volunteers, elected officials and members of the community to the ribbon cutting for the mission’s new 12,000-square-foot warehouse in Gallatin.

The Sumner County Food Bank ended an era in March, but there's a new era around the corner as volunteers make their way through April.

Liberty Baptist Pastor James Gill has stepped away from the food ministry for Sumner County needy families that he launched as an arm of the Gallatin church in May 2009. The last food giveaway under Gill was held on March 15.

First Baptist Hendersonville has taken over the food bank, which now serves 800-1,000 families per week.

The church has established a separate nonprofit with a new name and new location.

Feed Sumner Food Bank will operate at 1121 Gregory Drive in Gallatin, which First Baptist Hendersonville has a contract on and expects to close in June, Associate Pastor Bruce Raley said.

The Sumner County Food Bank operated in an approximate 12,000 square food building on Woods Ferry Road, in Gallatin, Gill said.

The ministry center building First Baptist Hendersonville will use is about 16,000 square feet, Raley said.

“My only concern is that people continue to be fed, and they are fully equipped to do that,” Gill said. “We grew from a 10-foot classroom to 12,000 square feet. This will be much larger, and I just pray it still has a family atmosphere.”

Food distribution will continue on the third Tuesday of each month with the first conducted by the church set for 8 a.m.-noon on April 19.

First Baptist Hendersonville will look at additional distribution points for food pick up as the church progresses with the Feed Sumner Food Bank, Raley said.

Thirteen additional churches and about 130 volunteers have participated in the Sumner County Food Bank, Gill said. Volunteers are expected to continue with the Feed Sumner Food Bank, Raley said.

“We hope to allow more people to know about the food bank,” Raley said. "This is a church ministry, but many in the community want to be part of it. We welcome all of them.”

Temperature controlled cold food storage truck.
Temperature controlled cold food storage truck.

Health issues led Gill to step away from the food bank.

He turns 80 in April.

Longtime Operations Director Downey Brawner will also turn 80 late in the year, Gill said.

Sumner County Food Bank has provided about 100 pounds of food for families the third Tuesday of the month, which Gill said can provide three meals a day for 10-12 days. The timing is to help families in need make through the rest of a given month; often families in need have access to food early in the month, Gill said.

The first food distribution nearly 13 years ago at Liberty Baptist provided food for 51 families.

Over time, food giveaways grew to about 100 pounds per family, according to Gill.

“It took about four years for people to see we were honest and transparent,” Gill said.

For information on the Feed Sumner Food Bank, call First Baptist Hendersonville at 615-824-6154.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: First Baptist Hendersonville takes over Sumner County food bank