AUSTINTOWN — Many organizations have stepped up to help feed those in need since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but for Austintown Community Evangelical Covenant Church, distributing food is not a new task.

The church has been helping provide food and other necessities to area families for 50 years.

“We get to serve our community and we get the privilege and the honor to love our neighbor,” Pastor Mark Nelson said of the long-operating Need Room program. “I’d love to work ourselves out of a job — but that’s not the way this is going.”

A weekly Wednesday food distribution at the church operates under Second Harvest Food Bank and serves the ZIP code areas 44509, 44511 and 44515 — but if someone from outside that range comes, volunteers don’t turn them away, according to Bonnie Weaver, Need Room chairwoman.

The Need Room also usually provides clothing, though that has been stifled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Walkers, wheelchairs and other mobility devices also are available to borrow.

The food distribution takes place 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday at the church, 242 S. Canfield Niles Road, and currently is operating as a drive-thru. The church also does a distribution during the same hours every fourth Saturday of the month, except in November and December.

The church’s Need Room began in 1970 when then-Rev. Arthur and Helen Swinehart asked the able congregation to help other church members in need, according to a 1994 booklet celebrating the church’s 150th anniversary.

The congregation donated food, money, clothing and its time.

“When the economy improved, we had fewer calls but still helped those who asked. We never lacked volunteers, clothing, food or money from the congregation,” the 1994 booklet states.

Last year, the Need Room served 2,221 households with a total of 4,766 family members. The pantry was stocked over the year with more than 41,000 pounds of food from Second Harvest Food Bank, at a cost of $7,334, according to the church’s records.

At Thanksgiving, church members and other local volunteers made up 300 bags of food and 300 bags of paper products and soaps for area families. Church elder James Alexander said the “spectacular” yearly effort takes 40 to 50 volunteers.

Though usually required to register those receiving food, through the thick of the pandemic the church was just keeping track of how many boxes of food it gave out. In April, the church provided 188 boxes, according to Weaver.

Alexander said with so many others providing food right now, fewer families have been utilizing the Need Room. Weaver said people receiving extra money on unemployment also have mentioned they don’t currently need free food.

At the same time, the Need Room has been getting more donations.

“We have more people donating. People have been very supportive of us,” Weaver said. She said even when the pandemic is more under control and other organizations have fewer food distributions, “we’ll still be here.”