LAWRENCE — Ken Campbell can relate to the Gospel story of the five loaves and two fishes.
Every week between 450 and 500 families come to the St. Martha Food Pantry on Hampshire Street to get canned goods, bread, fresh vegetables and dairy products to supplement their groceries.
The problem is, the shelves are sometimes bare, even several hours before the pantry opens at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.
"It is fishes and loaves," said Campbell, food coordinator for Lazarus House ministries, a nonprofit organization that works with the poor and homeless.
"It's amazing. We see whatever we have and say, 'How are we going to do that.' He asked us to serve, work hard and reward us."
Campbell is counting on the generosity of Eagle-Tribune readers to restock the shelves. The newspaper is hosting a food drive Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its offices, 100 Turnpike St., North Andover.
Publisher Al Getler said he agreed to host the food drive after receiving an e-mail from Campbell.
"There's no bias and no politics. They asked and we responded," Getler said.
He said The Eagle-Tribune building lends itself to a food drive because people can motor up the circular driveway, drop off their donations and drive off.
"What an easy way to help people and feed the hungry. If we can't reach into our pantries for a donation there is something wrong," he said.
"Our job as a newspaper is not only to cover the news but to be part of the fiber of the community," he said.
Getler said The Eagle-Tribune has a history of helping, starting with The Santa Fund at Christmas.
Yesterday, 435 families went to the pantry, which has a supermarket-style layout. There they chose tuna, spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, two loaves of bread, fresh zucchini, corn, yogurt and cheese.
Campbell said the number was low because the rain kept away the handicapped and those who walk to the pantry.
Campbell, who worked in the computer industry before joining Lazarus House, said this summer the agency has seen an increase in the number of people coming to their door looking for food, which he attributes to layoffs and reduced hours at work.
David Benitez, 45, of Lawrence, has been volunteering for three months and receiving groceries.
"Jesus is a person who loves everyone, and what better example can we set than helping them in their time of need," Benitez said.
For Laura Santos, 40, also of Lawrence, volunteering is a way of giving back to Lazarus House for the groceries she received at the pantry.
"There are a lot of people who need to know about Christ," Santos said. "When they come here, I don't want them to feel embarrassed but to feel happy because we welcome them with love."
Food distribution ends at 2 p.m., at which time Campbell and the 10 to 14 volunteers cleared the shelves, washed and sanitized them before restocking with whatever foods they had for the following week. He said it takes two days to restock the shelves.
"I'd be kidding myself and others if I didn't say it's stressful. It is stressful, there's no question about it. I do take time to pray and engage others to pray for donations," Campbell said.
In addition, Campbell and others at Lazarus House call individuals, industries and organizations seeking food donations.
"I get stressed, but I don't panic because I know he would not let us fail," Campbell said.
"I also believe that we would be provided because we're a faith-based agency and rely on Jesus to fulfill our needs."
Campbell again referred to the story of the loaves and fishes and said Jesus often brought people together around food.
"People come because of the food. What they are fed goes beyond the nutritional aspect. What we're doing here reflects the faces of Christ," he said.
The St. Martha food distribution is one of four food programs offered by Lazarus House. The others are: emergency food orders; bagged lunches distributed at Lazarus House shelter on Holy Street, lunch served at the Good Shepherd Center soup kitchen, and a soup truck that operates Friday and Sunday nights during January, February and March; and a three-day meal supply at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
If you go:
What: Food drive to benefit Lazarus House Ministries food pantry
When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: The Eagle-Tribune, 100 Turnpike St., North Andover.
