Bro. Bobby Grant, right, gave instructions to volunteers before several tons of food was handed out last Thursday at Mountain View Park. The new program is part of a new ministry Grant founded, Good Shepherd of Hope Ministry.

Former Pastor at Highway Church of the Nazarene, Bro. Bobby Grant, has been retired from ministry for almost a year now. He has since found a new ministry, and that’s helping people in Clinton County who need food.

Good Shepherd of Hope Ministry has just recently become a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in Clinton County.

“I prayed about this even before I retired and I guess this is my second phase of ministry,” Grant said. “I felt like we needed something like this. We are one of the poorest counties in the country … That’s nothing to be proud of for sure.”

Grant said he has gone through all the legal red tape and officially became a non-profit organization. Items donated to the ministry are tax deductible and people can rest assure items or money donated to the cause will go directly to people in Clinton County.

“I’m a 501C3 non-profit organization and I have all the legal matters aside. Right now I’m in the process of raising my first year’s budget to fund the organization and I’m in the process of applying for grants,” Grant said.

Other than providing food, Grant said he eventually would like to be able to provide clothing and furniture to people whose houses have been destroyed.

“I want to provide furniture to people who have a burnout or a bed to people who can’t afford a bed,” Grant said. “There are a lot of people in this county who haven’t made a lot of money, so their social security isn’t much or what little check they draw isn’t much and they kind of fall through the cracks. It’s those people who are not getting any help that need some help. I would like to concentrate on people like that.”

Other than food and clothing, Grant said he would also like to host a free health screening day.

“If I can get nurses to donate their time and I can find a facility, I would like to have a health check one day,” Grant said. “We could check for diabetes and check blood pressure … stuff like that.”

Thursday, Grant set up at the Moutain View Park and gave out donated food starting at 11 a.m.

“I didn’t take a count of how many people we helped, but it was a whole lot. We gave away I don’t know how many tons of food,” Grant said.

Although Grant doesn’t have a base of operations just yet, he is in the search for a place to rent.

“If somebody has it in their heart to let me use a place, that would be great, but I’m looking for a place to rent. I have a place right now and it would be great if I could get this particular building, but sometimes things happen.”

Grant said the organization will be funded strictly on donations and grants and he has had people show interest in his ministry and might be willing to help.

“I’m also looking into other organizations for help. I’ve been a part of ‘Feeding America’ for years and there are some other areas I can make contact with,” Grant said. “I’m going to try any area I can and I would appreciate any kind of advice or people who deal with areas like this, I would appreciate their help. I think this is something much needed here in our county.”

Grant said he has already received a lot of support, including support from his church.

“My church has been very supportive and I appreciate that,” Grant said. “This is for anyone who has a need for Clinton County. It’s going to take me a few weeks or a month or two to get everything established and up and going, but I guarantee if they call me and ask if I want another load of food I will take it.”

Some people in Clinton County aren’t getting the food they need on a monthly basis according to Grant.

“I know there are people in this county who don’t think it’s happening, but I will tell you it is,” Grant said. “It’s here, it’s real … I see it, I hear about it everyday. Do I get scammed sometimes? Sure, but it’s not a prefect world.”

Helping those in Clinton County is something Grant has done for many years. Recently he put together a semi-truck load of supplies and drove it to Alabama to the tornado victims last spring.

“I just feel like this is what my ministry is to do now in my senior years,” Grant said. “I’m excited about it. I’m just trying to help the people of Clinton County.”

Another reason for starting the Good Shepherd of Hope Ministry is because he believes it is the church’s place to step in and help these people.

“To me, a long time ago, the church dropped the ball when they left this up to the government to take care of,” Grant said. “This is biblical … we are to help our fellow man.”