Surplus Food Truck Delivery to White County

A truck carrying approximately 20 pallets of food, totaling nearly 32,947 pounds, from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived at BonDeCroft Baptist Church on Wednesday, September 23, to support the church and the White County Help Center. Volunteers transported 12 pallets from the delivery site to the Help Center’s food bank in downtown Sparta. The shipment included pinto beans, flour, diced tomatoes, spaghetti, oats, peanut butter, cake mix, and other food staples.

Community members provided several large trailers for the trip. Together, they loaded the food, transported it to Sparta, and carried it from the trailers into the Help Center’s storage area.

The work took many hands and plenty of effort. Through it all, the volunteers served cheerfully, with smiles on their faces. Their teamwork was a wonderful example of neighbors coming together to help feed people in the community.

BonDeCroft Baptist Church is a fellowship of 20 Southern Baptist churches serving communities throughout White, DeKalb, Putnam, and Van Buren Counties in Middle Tennessee. Though each congregation is unique, they are united by faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The White County Help Center in Sparta is a local nonprofit organization serving individuals and families in the White County area of Tennessee. Its mission is centered on meeting basic needs and helping neighbors who may be experiencing financial hardship or food insecurity. The Help Center operates a food pantry and also offers donated clothing and household goods through its thrift-store services. Community donations, volunteers, and partnerships with organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee help support its work.

Located in Sparta, the Help Center has become an important community resource for people needing practical assistance during difficult times. Its work is rooted in neighbors helping neighbors and making sure local residents have access to food and other necessities. Community events and local organizations also raise funds to support the Help Center and its continued service throughout White County.

“We were able in the year of 2026 to distribute over 420,000 pounds of food to those in need,” said George Elrod of the White County Help Center. “We also have clothes for all ages.”

The White County Help Center is open six days a week, Monday through Friday from 1 pm to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to noon. It is located at 115 East Bronson St. in Sparta.

Surplus humanitarian food and essential supplies from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are delivered worldwide throughout the year to food banks and nonprofit partner agencies, such as the White County Help Center and BonDeCroft Baptist Church. In addition to these regular surplus food truck deliveries, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is committed to delivering 250 food trucks throughout all 50 U.S. states as a 2026 initiative aligned with the America 250 observance.

JustServe specialist Dan Benke helped identify organizations to receive the surplus food truck delivery on September 23 and was present for the delivery.

“If everyone participated in programs like JustServe, there would be more hope in our country—and our communities would be changed for the better,” said Benke, who leads JustServe efforts across several counties in Middle Tennessee.

JustServe is a free public website and mobile app sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that connects community volunteers with local nonprofit, faith-based, and government organizations needing project help. See JustServe.org