A Red Hook church started a food pantry to help community members in need.

A line of people stretched down an entire block outside of the Red Hook Initiative to get free food packages Saturday. Many waited in line for over four hours.

The free food packages were put together by Redemption Church.

The pastor's wife, Melinda Pacheco, says this started when some of their members reached out asking for help when the pandemic started.

"There's this excitement that we can do something for the community. There's this passion that we have to serve. Then on the other end, when I walk through the line by the end of the day, I'm a little bit broken because I feel like I wish we could do more," says Pacheco.

The church gave out 150 small packages the first week. Nearly three months in, the church has distributed a week’s worth of food to more than 250 people.

People in the community volunteer to help the church put the food packages together.

"This has been like a real bright spot for all of us, we're all looking forward to Saturday. Looking forward to that time we can spend together, that time we get to give back," says Ivan Gualpa, a volunteer.

The church partnered with several different organizations, including City Harvest.

Pacheco says she used social media to ask for donations to buy the food. She says the church wants to keep helping neighbors indefinitely.