TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — As the effects of the government shutdown continues, several local churches are working to gather donations for people who need them.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Troy has had an open food bank for years, but Food Bank Chairperson Suzanne Price says the need has expanded.

“We started out about twenty-five years ago,” Price told TrojanVision. “Having food in a bookcase in an open parish hall, to where we are now where we fed over six hundred people last month. We are feeding a lot of people who are having trouble these days.”

Anyone from the Troy community can come to the St. Mark’s Food Bank and receive food assistance.

“We have a policy of no questions asked, no information other than basic name, address, phone number, and we give you ten pounds of food once a month,” Price explained.

Colby Wheeler, the family pastor at Troy Church, said it was an easy decision for his church to help.

“We want to be a church that-that meets the needs of our community,” Wheeler said. “Whenever one of our elders texted our group, kind of asking about what we could do in light of the food benefits running out this month, it was easy for us to say, ‘Yeah, we can put together a food drive.’”

Both Price and Wheeler say their food ministries connect directly to their mission as churches.

“We see all throughout scripture that god has a-a heart for the vulnerable,” Wheeler said. “God calls his people to care for those who are needy and the hungry, and so we see a calling towards that to help those.”

“This is our way to do what Jesus told us and to help people,” Price said.

Anyone local to Troy who needs food assistance, including Troy students, is welcome to visit the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Food Bank Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 pm.