CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Loaves and Fishes makes over 100 meals a day for Clarksville families, and that wouldn’t be possible without the help of the community.
On Saturday, Crossland Cares, a non-profit outreach program, partnered with Loaves and Fishes to gather food donations for their ministry.
“We weren’t going to have a church picnic, which is where we came up with the idea for the un-picnic, which is helping to feed others rather than ourselves,” Alexis Wall, the founder of Crossland Cares, told Clarksville Now.
According to Wall, Crossland Cares was created during the pandemic to bring about a sense of togetherness.
“When people are being pushed to the time where they are told they can’t be with other people, that’s when the sense of community is the hardest to want back,” Wall said. “We all want to be able to interact with each other.”
Pastor Billy Wall Jr. of Crossland Baptist Church and co-founder of Crossland Cares said he has been involved with Loaves and Fishes since his late teens.
“Loaves and Fishes is a sincere and foundational part of what Clarksville is becoming.”
He says that even though the pandemic has closed some doors, he believes it has done some good.
“COVID has brought families back to dinner tables where communication can be held. COVID has brought about doing things like this and other matters, because it’s not about us, but it’s for the person standing next to you.”
Between the two donation locations on Crossland Avenue, over 40 cars had shown up to donate food.
The event was supported by Crossland Avenue Baptist Church, Lone Oak Jeep Crew, Clarksville Jeep Crew, Cumberland Baptist Association and their churches, Alicia’s K9 Cuts & Feline Fridays, Grace Bible Church, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, The City Forum, Austin Peay’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams, and Gideon’s International.