ROANOKE, Va. – For many people who don't know where their next meal may come from, a church ministry says it is always willing to give out free food to those who need it.
One roadblock for the United Christian Inner City Ministry is that the van used to pick up meals from around the Roanoke area is in need of repairs.
The church has been in the community for about 12 years, serving about 1,500 plates a week to anyone who needs a good meal, but it's becoming harder since its current food truck is not refrigerated.
Randy Harper, a church member, uses the truck to pick up food for his church, but lately, it's giving the ministry lots of problems.
"We pick up a lot of meats and frozen items and by the time I get back around lunchtime most of those items have already thawed out and warmed from the heat in the truck," said Harper.
Those who are a part of the ministry said the current truck is old and worn-down, causing the ministry to be in desperate need of a refrigerated food truck.
"It's a good truck but it's old. It's got 300,000 miles on it. It's getting worn out and taped together and strung together. We make it do, but it's not refrigerated. I put freezers in it and coolers. It's a lot of work to get the food back here," said Pastor Mike English.
The food helps to provide hundreds of free meals to anyone in the community.
The meals are served several nights a week, and a new truck would help to continue their ministry called the "Chicken Church."
"We serve a lot of chicken. Chicken is our biggest thing. One chicken will feed about three people, so it stretches out," said English.
The ministry is trying to raise $2,500 for a truck with a refrigerating system and has an online campaign going to help raise the funds.
The ministry says lots of people depend on it for their next meal.
"People you think will never come to ask for help are coming now 'cause it's just getting hard. It's on my important list to keep food here," said English.
The Chicken Church also gives people the opportunity to work in exchange for food, and Harper says volunteering is part of the ministry.
"It gives me purpose. There's one of the things I notice with a lot of people," said Harper.