WHEELING — With many businesses forced to furlough or lay off workers due to closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, some local families are facing new financial hardships this summer.

Bethlehem Apostolic Temple will hold its second drive-through food basket giveaway of the year Saturday to assist those who have fallen on hard times since the pandemic began. The church has held food giveaways several times a year since 1990, according to the Rev. Darrell Cummings, lead pastor at the church. Normally, these take place around Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter, with a giveaway every August called “Adopt-a-Student.”

However, volunteers were unable to organize the usual Easter giveaway this year, Cummings said, after health department officials advised against an event that might draw a large crowd and become a safety risk. The church postponed the Easter event until early May, when volunteers, assisted by the West Virginia National Guard, held their first drive-through giveaway. Cummings said the church recorded a total of 586 families that came to collect a pre-made basket of food.

The event Saturday will be similar to the giveaway in May, although the National Guard will not be there. Each giveaway box will contain enough food to feed a family of four for a week. The event is first come, first serve, and no proof of financial need or unemployment is required.

“If you think we can help you, you should come,” he urged. “We’re just trying to be good neighbors.”

The drive-through giveaway will be held at the North Wheeling Community Dream Center, located at 407 Main St. across from the Bethlehem Temple. Anyone interested in picking up a basket should come between 10 and 11 a.m. Saturday. Pre-registration is not required, as registration will occur at the event.