On January 31, FightingBack Ministries will host a community outreach event at the Carrollton Congregational Church (CHC). Through donations from the community, this event will offer those in need a variety of items, including non-perishable food, toys, clothes, and home essentials. Attendees will also receive a free haircut and a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup. Children in attendance will have the opportunity to have their faces painted and pick out a new toy. Prayer requests will also be received during the event to be prayed over nightly by the family behind FightingBack Ministries.
FightingBack Ministries was started in November 2025 by Jessica Gentry. Gentry has worked on similar projects in the past, including in 2016, when she helped provide resources to those struggling with drug addictions or stuck in domestic violence situations.
In November 2025, during the government shutdown, Gentry decided to host an event at her home where she offered warm meals to those in need. She took this project a step further by also delivering meals to those who lacked transportation. Altogether, she and her family were able to feed over 250 people during this one project. This event in November kick-started the formation of her nonprofit by showing Gentry the urgent need for an organization like FightingBack Ministries.
Since then, Gentry has helped families get their gas turned on, delivered food and other goods to individuals in need across the West Georgia and East Alabama region, and hosted an event in December where they served over 300 individuals. It was also around this time that Gentry registered her organization both through the state and federally, as well as filed as a 501(c)(3), allowing the organization to legally receive the benefits of a nonprofit. She is hoping to be approved for the 501(c)(3) status by the end of January, which will allow her to expand the organization as a whole.
Gentry expressed gratitude for the support she has received from the community that has enabled her to help over a thousand individuals through FightingBack Ministries. She also noted a special thank-you to her thirteen kids, who have played a role in every step of this nonprofit: “The kids have really pulled together, and we have made this happen for the community.” Her children help in many ways to execute planned events, including cooking meals to hand out, organizing events, and offering face painting.
The address for the event on January 31 is 542 South Street in Carrollton, Ga. The community can follow this organization and find ways to get involved by visiting them on Facebook under the name FightingBack Ministries.
