If somebody’s hungry, just feed them.
Raised in Chesterfield, South Carolina, Reverend Barbara Polk McAllister learned from an early age that food represented much more than a meal, it symbolized love, resilience, and community. As the oldest of seven children in a single-parent household, she helped care for her siblings while growing up on homegrown vegetables, chicken, rice, and other simple foods. Experiencing food insecurity herself inspired a lifelong commitment to ensuring others never have to go hungry.
Although she felt called to ministry for many years, Barbara did not fully embrace that calling until she rededicated her life to God in 1997. She believes her childhood experiences, including overcoming bullying and growing up with limited resources, prepared her to serve others with compassion and empathy.
For nearly ten years at Elon First Baptist Church, Reverend McAllister has helped lead the church’s food pantry, serving hundreds of families through monthly food distributions and partnerships with organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank and CityServe. Beyond the pantry, she regularly delivers meals, clothing, and essential items to people experiencing homelessness and helps organize Thanksgiving dinners that provide both food and dignity to community members in need.
Barbara’s vision for the future is that communities should care for one another the way neighbors once did. She believes hunger should never be met with unnecessary barriers or paperwork and hopes people remember the power of small acts of kindness. As she says, “If somebody’s hungry, just feed them.” Through her ministry and service, Reverend Barbara Polk McAllister demonstrates that compassion, generosity, and love can strengthen an entire community.