(c)2009 NPT PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS
Someone, or some persons, battered the front windshield and knocked
out side windows of a delivery truck belonging to God's Storehouse on
Highway West 25/70, on Tuesday evening, Oct. 13. The ministry named
a suspect. District Manager Scott Coulter told The Newport Plain Talk
that the Chevrolet box truck was used for collection and distribution of
food and other donations. Coulter said the ministry in Newport, one of
three God's Storehouses, feeds an average of 5,000 people a month.

Newport-Less food will be distributed to the needy who go to God's Storehouse on West Highway 25/70 until a delivery truck that was heavily vandalized Tuesday night can be fixed and used again to transport large amounts of food donations to the ministry.

"We could use all the help we can get," said Scott Coulter, District Manager of the three God's Storehouse warehouses, this morning, in reference to repairing the Chevrolet box truck.

The truck, one of two large delivery trucks, was parked behind God's Storehouse.

It appeared someone tried to shatter the windshield with a blunt object, perhaps a baseball bat. It was virtually covered with cracks from blows to it.

The side windows, headlights, and mirrors were busted out, as well. In addition, an air pump was taken from the delivery truck's cab.

"We won't have as many groceries this week," Coulter said, because smaller pickup trucks must be used to load as much food as they can hold in their beds. Rain falling on the food while it is driven to God's Storehouse is a concern, as well, he added.

Coulter added, however, that he was delighted that a man from Bush's stopped by to offer to volunteer his labor to replace the windshield and windows.

Coulter said an average of 2,800-3,000 people come to Newport's God's Storehouse each month. Because the food they pick up is used to feed families, he estimated 5,000 people are fed by God's Storehouse on a monthly basis.

Pastor Jeff Speers of Fire on the Rock Outreach Ministries, which includes God's Storehouse, said of the vandalism, which is under investigation by the Newport Police Department, "God knows who did it.

"We're all about helping people and winning people to Christ," the pastor said.