Harvest Time Fellowship Church feeds hundreds of residents by providing free meals to the Southern Oregon community once a month from Fall to Spring each year.

“We established the thrift store, and then a food giveaway two or three times a week, and then Leon came up with the idea of serving a hot meal,” said George Wilson, Pastor of Harvest Time Fellowship.

The food giveaway began in 2020 during the pandemic when Leon Callahan realized that people in his community needed a hot meal and could not afford to go to a restaurant.

“They are full, nourishing meals, a lot of senior citizens in town come by and thank us for doing this because they say it’s the only meal that they can get outside of their home that they can enjoy that’s not cooked at home,” said Leon Callahan, the cook and food coordinator.

Now that the food giveaway is more established, Leon has returned to his food catering business in the Spring and Summer months but the church still accepts boxed and canned goods during those months to prepare for the fall when the meals begin again. April 30 is the last day to pick up a meal.

“Last month we gave away more food than we ever have, is what I was just told by the ladies outside, and we see it growing each month and the people just appreciate it, especially since some people on food stamps have been cut off so they say they really needed this,” said Marjorie Delzell, a member of the church.

The church is located at 345 2nd Ave, Gold Hill. Donations are accepted at the church's thrift shop Tuesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

“We’re able to continue to bring more stuff in and just being able to keep our prices low,” said Angie Frazier, a volunteer at the thrift shop. “Because there is a need for these goods in the community we keep the prices affordable, I like to say I’m the new dollar store.”