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Shopping Guide News Wednesday, July 15, 2026
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Furrow: New Matthew’s Market space to help feed people, foster ‘connection’
Text and Photos By LEAH SANDER Staff Writer
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The Cross church’s Pastor Martin Furrow said a new renovated space for the church’s food pantry will help foster “connection” with its clients as well as feeding them. The church, located at 100 W. Third St., Rochester, recently received $50,000 from the Fulton County Community Foundation for reconstructing two buildings into a larger place for its Matthew’s Market food pantry. The two buildings, donated from a trucking company in another county, were placed beside the church in March. Volunteers led by Don Jervis have worked along with contractors on the buildings. The new combined space for the pantry will be 2,935 square feet, providing an intake area and space for clients to get out of the cold or heat, a place for clients to pick out food, a bathroom and a private room where people can talk with a volunteer or church staff if needed. The entrance and exit include a wheelchair ramp. Furrow said space is cramped in the current building the church has, located by the church building in a former garage.
“It doesn’t have enough space to keep everything, and we have our pallets of food in another garage building,” he said. “That’s caused a lot of issues with trying to get stuff, especially with our volunteers and getting out and trying to get the things moved in and put on the shelves.” Matthew’s Market was started about 16 years ago by The Cross’ former Pastor Dave Terhune and members Pat and Robin Burkett, said Furrow. “They just had a heart to feed the community,” he said. Volunteers handed out food in bags before Matthew’s Market moved into its current building. The pantry is open 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and 4-6 p.m. Thursdays. People may come every two weeks, with the church also helping more often if clients have an emergency. Those coming must reside in Fulton County and meet federal guidelines for poverty, said Furrow. People are given numbers when they arrive, with a volunteer helping them pick out food when it is their turn to shop based on the size of the clients’ families. Items are available through The Emergency Food Assistance Program. People may also donate food to the market by dropping it off at the church or contacting the church at (574) 223-3107. Items needed currently are cereal, sugar, flour, oil, milk, soup and Hamburger Helper. The pantry also stocks toiletries, so people can give shampoo, deodorant and more. Monetary donations are also welcomed, for the pantry as well as the new building project. People may either drop those off at the church or call the above
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VOLUNTEERS — Pastor Rick Stone, left, and Terry Riggle are some of the volunteers at Matthew’s Market’s food pantry at The Cross church of Rochester. number to learn how to donate. Volunteers are also welcomed to work on the new building or help out in the pantry, with them needing to call the above number. Plans are to finish the new building ahead of a September open house for the pantry. Furrow said the current Matthew’s Market space will eventually be “repurposed” by the church. He noted along with the community foundation, those who’ve helped with Matthew’s Market over the years include Faith Outreach Center and Grace Church, both of Rochester.
Furrow said Matthew’s Market’s original mission was to feed people and the church keeps “trying to continue to not only do that mission, but to do it better.” “We do care a lot about them,” he said of the community. Furrow added he wants the new pantry building to be a place for “more than just food.” “It’s a place that (clients) can come talk with people, celebrate with people,” he said. “Food is good, but the connection with the people and meeting the other needs that they have ... I just love that.”
STOCKING FOOD — Volunteer Cynthia Valencia stocks food inside Matthew’s Market food pantry’s current building at The Cross church of Rochester.
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