LILLIAN — Local groups provided thousands of pounds of food to families in need during a food drop held at Lillian Masonic Lodge No. 925 on Friday, Nov. 6.

With a line of cars waiting outside the Lillian Masonic Lodge, families in need from the local area were provided with food to get them through a time of need. Those involved with Friday's food drop include the Rewards Foundation, a local nonprofit serving the Lillian area, Feeding the Gulf Coast, the Lillian Masonic Lodge, which provided financial support, and the Optimist Club of Perdido Bay, along with local churches and civic organizations.

Jeff Keener of the Rewards Foundation said that 5,000 pounds of food were paid for by Feeding the Gulf Coast, with another 3,800 pounds provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, providing food for around 125 families.

"It took an hour and a half, two hours to unload the truck," Keener said. "As a result, we're going to put in a concrete pad here so the truck doesn't sink."

It was the first time the Rewards Foundation has hosted a food drop in Lillian, with plans for more in the future. Keener, a local resident, commended the volunteers and reflected on the changing needs of the small, rural community along the Alabama-Florida state line. Lillian has limited dining options, with Jack's being the first restaurant in the area to be open after lunchtime.

"It's a really good feeling and I'm really excited based on this turnout because when we started the effort, we weren't sure that we'd get a lot of volunteers, and it's been amazing," Keener said.