For the first time, the Covenant Church of Washington is partnering with the Beaufort County Feeding Program to help serve children in the community.

Covenant Church of Washington will join the Wares Chapel United Methodist Church to provide free meals to children 18 and younger at River Road Estates every Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Care-O-World sponsors the program until Aug. 14. The program, which aims to help those who usually rely on school lunches for nutrition, offers free meals Mondays through Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Meredith Massengill, a Covenant Church member, volunteered at the feeding program last year, and she decided to get her church involved for this summer’s program. Since she couldn’t launch a feeding site all by herself, she said partnering with the program is a great way to get started.

“Between the few people that volunteered last year, we just saw the wonderful benefits of it. We thought this would be a good idea before we start our own feeding program, which is our goal. It’s a great stepping stone,” Massengill said.

Massengill said the site at River Road Estates serves as a mobile feeding site in Beaufort County. Members of Care-O-World, an early learning center in Beaufort County, prepare the food, and volunteers like Jim Reed, pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church, deliver food to each site. Any child under 18 can receive a free, hot meal. It’s not just a place for food, but also a place for learning and having fun. Massengill said at this location, many children stay and play kickball, soccer, board games, read books and complete puzzles.

“It’s not just a place to feed people. It’s a place to nurture their souls and form relationships. The same children come back week after week,” Massengill said.

Massengill also said it’s a great way for children to interact and play with other children in the community. She brings her own children out on Mondays so they have the chance to make new friends.

“I love that I get to take my kids, and they get to not only eat, but they get to interact with kids they don’t know. One time my daughter brought me a book in Spanish, and I told her I couldn’t read it because I can’t speak Spanish. Some of the children who come out are bilingual, and one of the little girls ended up reading the book to my daughter,” Massengill said. “They can bless us so much in the midst of serving them.”

Covenant Church is one of the many Beaufort County churches that have jumped on board to help the community. Massengill said the decision to volunteer for the program can help her church grow and build stronger relationships within her own church and those in the community.

“We will grow stronger as we serve together. Being able to serve in the community lets us share the love of Jesus Christ with others outside our church walls,” Massengill said.