Feeding the Hungry: Our Food Pantry
Another manifestation of our continuing commitment to social justice is the St. Andrew’s Food Pantry and Shower Ministry, which is open two Saturdays each month, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Recent News
The Food Pantry broke all records for distributing food on July 10. We gave out groceries for 152 people! We invite you to come by before or after church to see just how empty our shelves are. So, now we need your help because our next pantry day is July 24--only one week away. If you prefer, you can write a check putting "Food Pantry" on the memo line and drop it in the offertory. We are also in need of volunteers for August 13 and 27. Come join us! We work hard, but have lots of fun, too.
What We Need Right Now
Due to a high volume of clients, we need everything!
- peanut butter
- tuna fish (in cans or foil packs)
- canned goods:
- canned turkey
- canned chicken
- Spam
- stews
- spaghetti sauce with meat or cheese
- chunky soups
- ravioli and spaghetti-O’s
- chili with meat
- canned fruit and vegetables (except tomatoes and brown beans)
- boxes of macaroni and cheese
- powdered milk in individual packets
- dried beans
- rice
- disposable razors
- individual shampoos
Those Who Receive Also Give
Our Food Pantry volunteers were recently offered song and music by those who came for assistance as thanks for the work that this church does — not for what any individual in this church does, but for the warmth and fellowship felt when people come for assistance.
During preparations for our Community Thanksgiving Dinner, two of the homeless people in our area, Teresa and Scott, worked virtually all day helping to set up tables and chairs and preparing the sacks of groceries to be distributed that evening. Both expressed many times how happy they were to be able to help out at St. Andrew’s and how they felt blessed to be able to participate in this activity of the community.
In these two instances, people who felt powerless had an opportunity to give back to the church community. As longtime volunteers Jacque and David Seale wrote, “We have reached a new level in this work when we have (accidentally) found a way in which those who come to receive can also give.”