CHOCOWINITY — “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

Those words, from the Bible’s book of Matthew, were the inspiration for an added dimension to the food ministry at Haw Branch Church of Christ in Chocowinity.

The church holds a food distribution the fourth Saturday of each month, but beginning last fall the congregation decided to throw in a little something extra; folks lining up for a box of food are sometimes treated to a home-cooked meal.

The church intends to host such a meal every three months, according to Stacie Kirkman, who coordinates the project. In November it was a full Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and dessert.

This past weekend, a hot breakfast was enjoyed, Kirkman said. The menu featured pancakes, eggs, ham, coffee and tea.

The meal is appreciated by those receiving the food boxes; over 200 were seated for the Thanksgiving dinner, and the church now prepares for 250 people. The next meal is planned for May.

The Haw Branch congregation is fully behind the project.

“I don’t even have a sign-up list,” Kirkman said during a break from dishing up breakfast plates. “I just put it out there and people show up.”

The church volunteers are eager to help others, and Haw Branch’s new Family Life Center is the perfect place to host the meals.

“We built the new building because we wanted to expand our ministry,” said Kirkman, whose husband Jason is the church’s minister.

The food for the meals is provided by church members; some donate groceries while others pitch in with cash to fund a shopping expedition.

While the meal is offered every three months, the food distribution is done on a monthly basis.

Jeff Hardy coordinates that side of things, and he has unofficially dubbed it the Daily Bread Ministry. An average of 100 families receive assistance with their food needs each month because of the efforts of Haw Branch Church of Christ.

Cars begin lining up by 8 a.m. for the drive-through distribution, which itself begins at 11:30. The food is distributed through Eagles Wings and is trucked in from the Food Bank of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City. Volunteers sort and box the items, and then hand them out to those in line, sharing a smile and a kind word.

“I just really look at the people who are in line, and what I see a lot of the time are older people who are responsible for taking care of their grandchildren,” Hardy said. “These are people on a fixed income. I’ve had people with tears in their eyes thank us for doing this.”

As with the meal, Hardy said he usually has no shortage of volunteers, even in the worst of weather conditions.

“It can be cold, raining … but every time it has worked out,” he said. “It’s just remarkable when you ask somebody to help with something, what they’re willing to do.”