BARTOW, Fla. — A Polk County food bank is comitted to helping the community this Thanksgiving after an arson fire destroyed its supply last November.

What You Need To Know

  • New Testament Ministries plans to host a Thankgiving drive-thru on Friday after experiencing an arson fire last year.

  •  Owner, Pastor Dais Abraham has been providing food through Bartow High School since the fire.

  • The drive-thru will be located at Bartow High’s drop-off and pick-up location from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Investigators with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Gordon Nelson, 60, destroyed New Testament Ministries' original location on Combee Road. Nelson was arrested and charged in connection with the fire.

Since then, owner Pastor Dais Abraham has been working to restore what was lost, one box at a time.

“It’s been actually a hard journey,” he said. “Everything was ground zero, and we had nothing left from there, from the past. Especially losing the walk-in cooler and freezer. That was a huge loss. And the location, too.”

Pastor Abraham temporarily provides food through Bartow Senior High School’s Champions Canteen. Every Wednesday, the pantry is open to the entire community, not just students.

Teacher Deanne Taylor said they typically receive shipments of food from Feeding Tampa Bay, but with the help of Abraham, the school is able to support more people.

“We are seeing over 120 families come through the canteen, and he is able to bless us with a supplement so we can meet those needs,” Taylor said.

Now, Abraham is teaming up with the canteen for his annual drive-thru ahead of Thanksgiving. Friday, he and volunteers plan to hand out turkeys and other items outside of the school.

“It means more than just having an event,” he said. “When I do this, it’s not just giving something. It’s giving people a chance to see the value of coming together as a family and doing it together.”

The Thanksgiving drive-thru will start at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at Bartow High’s drop-off and pick-up location. If you would like to donate, call Abraham at (813) 643-3247.