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"To meet the needs of being human." That is what Danita Davis said when asked what the greatest needs are of the people served through the pantry at Loving Arms Ministry.
Driving along busy West Main Street in Forest City, you might not notice Loving Arms Ministry. Tucked away in an inconspicuous, yet easily accessible location, the food pantry is strategically placed to serve some of our most vulnerable neighbors in Rutherford County. Six years ago, Danita founded the pantry because she had observed regular foot traffic from transient and unhoused individuals making their way to a soup kitchen for a hot dinner a couple of blocks away from the pantry's location at 161 W. Main Street. But that was dinner, not breakfast and lunch. Empathizing with the needs of being human, Danita recognized that these individuals needed more support than a single hot meal.
Being human means being treated with compassion and dignity, especially during the hardest times. In the years since the pantry opened, Danita has learned that the most impactful aspect is the sense of security people in crisis feel when they access the pantry because they realize that there is a place where they can find help. It is not just receiving a bag of groceries or a donated jacket that helps them gain stable footing. It is knowing that community support from compassionate humans exists and where to find it.
The pantry's unassuming building on a busy main road is a perfect location to reach individuals and families in need. It is convenient for many with or without transportation. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, displaced individuals would get off at a bus stop near the pantry with suitcase in hand, not knowing where they could find help until they learned about the nearby pantry. Since then, the need for food has increased in Rutherford County, and Loving Arms Ministry has expanded its operations to meet the higher demand. At the beginning of 2026, they launched partnerships with a handful of organizations, including the Forest City Housing Authority, where people in need can find food, toiletries, baby items, and other resources at that location. Loving Arms Ministry receives the donations and delivers them to partners for distribution.
Each year, the pantry distributes six tons of food in the community. Currently, they are open on Wednesdays, 11am-4pm, or by emergency appointment, and see about 20 households a week at the West Main Street location and about a dozen at the partnering locations. Each bag of food is tailored to the household's needs, accounting for number of heads, children, and seniors, and making sure there is enough for at least three days. With this kind of thoughtfulness, people feel cared for and seen. They also take into consideration what cooking resources clients have at their disposal. Unhoused individuals receive pop-top cans and ready-to-eat non-perishable foods. Those living in motels receive recipes on how to use a coffee pot to make soup out of their bag contents. A free pantry food box was installed out front to supply food when the building is closed. But Loving Arms Ministry's services go beyond food and toiletries. Through their affiliation with The Source Ministries, they are able to collect monetary donations to assist with laundry services, help residents get to doctor appointments and job interviews, provide ministry programming to senior centers, and so much more.
How You Can Help
As Loving Arms Ministry grows to meet the increased needs, they, too, need community support. They are always accepting food, basic need items, and monetary donations. At the moment, they mostly need grains, cereals and pasta, motel friendly foods, and sturdy bags to hold the food for clients. On their wish list are large freezers to hold meats and a large vehicle to pick up and distribute donations.
For more information on how you can help, visit their website at www.thesourceministriesnc.com.
