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SEABOARD – The nice thing about a community is that when one part is in need, others step up to help.

While the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across the world and also hits close to home, several local churches, restaurants, and people in the community have worked together to help Pine Forest Rest Home in Potecasi.

Due to quarantine measures for COVID-19, the local nonprofit long-term care facility found themselves short staffed and in a bind for providing meals to the residents. Galatia Baptist Church, led by Pastor Matthew Dupuy, helped coordinate an effort to fill in the gaps.

“We have basically organized a wide-ranging team of people to deliver all three meals every day to Pine Forest,” Dupuy explained.

“It’s been an incredible array of food, and generally a lot of food,” he added.

Individuals have donated anything from breakfast casseroles and lasagna to vegetable soups and desserts. Additionally, through monetary donations, Dupuy has been able to purchase meals from local restaurants for some days.

“We know the restaurants are struggling too,” he said, acknowledging the meal orders are a way to help boost those businesses which have seen reduced sales while social distancing measures remain in place.

Even though the residents remain cut off from the outside world for their safety, Dupuy said they can continue to enjoy good meals every day.

Dupuy told the News Herald they’ve arranged to help provide meals through Saturday, April 4 when staff is expected to be able to return to their positions, but he also made sure they would be able to continue sending food if there was a need for it.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with the support,” he said.

Though expenses have already been covered for the meals by many generous donations, Dupuy still receives calls and messages from people who want to contribute. He said they will continue to pass on donations to the rest home facility. Make sure to put “Pine Forest” on the memo line of checks which can be mailed to the church at 1219 Galatia Road, Seaboard, NC 27876.

“We’ll make sure every cent of it goes to help them,” the pastor emphasized.

Dupuy is quick to point out, however, that the work they’re doing is to reflect God’s glory and not their own.

“I really believe with all of my heart the church is meant to be a light to the world in a time of darkness,” he said. “I’m just worshipping the Lord for giving us the opportunity to do it. Ultimately, it’s about His goodness.

“Pine Forest is a good place. It’s a very family-oriented place,” Dupuy added.

He praised the Pine Forest staff for their hard work, and said he wanted the staff and residents to know there are plenty of people in the community here to support them in any way.