The volunteers who organized Caroline County's first food and clothing ministry aren't looking for accolades. They won't even take credit for their work.

"I don't think it's been us," Brenda James said. "God has done it all."

The result is Glory Outreach, which opens tomorrow in Bowling Green. Located in a former dentist's office, the ministry will provide food and clothing to the county's needy.

"With the rising gas prices and the mortgage crunch, there is less money for food now for families," said Cheryl Elam, eligibility supervisor for the Caroline Department of Social Services. "We will refer families to Glory Outreach. It's very important to have something that's organized like this."

Caroline has 1,237 families on food stamps, up from 900 last year. The county had about 8,000 households in the 2000 census.

"There is not a clothes ministry in Caroline," said Darlene Keener, the coordinator for Glory Outreach. "There are no Goodwill or Salvation Army stores here."

A few churches have food banks. Social services has a food pantry and offers grocery-store vouchers.

"We get requests every day," Elam said. "The food just goes so fast."

Glory Outreach will help meet that need, Keener said. The effort began in November as a Sunday school project. More than 30 adults from the class taught by James at Salem Baptist Church raised about $4,500 for rent, food and clothing. Since last month, they have been hanging clothes and stocking shelves.

The mission will provide clothing -- from casual to dress -- for babies, toddlers, teenagers and adults. Food items will include rice, peanut butter, bread, cereal, pasta and other staples.

The outreach is hoping to obtain a refrigerator and freezer so cold and frozen foods can be offered as well.

Volunteers will staff the mission Tuesday evenings and the last Saturday of each month. Donations will be accepted during those times. The hope, officials say, is to expand hours.

"Our volunteers will share the gospel with folks," James said. "We want to make a real effort so that the volunteers are comfortable in sharing their faith. We understand life is hard, but God is with us through it all."

Residents will fill out applications when they come to Glory Outreach, but the free services are open to all, with no proof of income required. The amount received is based on family size.

"We are meeting a need in our community without relying on the government to do it for us," Keener said. "We are stepping up to the plate."
Contact Janet Caggiano at (804) 649-6157 or jcaggiano@timesdispatch.com.