The Christian Service Center food bank’s trends are continuing upward, as they are on pace to give out nearly 50,000 more pounds of food this year than two years ago.

The Rev. Leroy Cole, church and community ministries director for the Covington Baptist Association, said Tuesday that the center is close to 350,000 pounds of food, with a good bit of time remaining in this year.

“We are distributing about 32,000 pounds of food per month,” Cole said.

The goal of the food drives is to provide for families with low incomes that struggle to feed their loved ones.

In 2015, the organization gave away more than 300,000 pounds in this effort; in 2013 the ministry donated 279,000 pounds and an estimated 246,000 pounds in 2012.

Typically, each family receives about 12 pounds family member, Cole said. That means the organization is providing food to approximately 3,645 people each month.

The people who accept the distributions must be income-eligible and be able to prove that.

Distribution in Andalusia takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; in Opp, on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and in Florala on the third Friday of each month.

Any non-perishable food items are welcomed as a donation.

If anyone has any questions or would like to donate, please call the CSC at 334-222-3840.