December 20, 2023

Joy to the World...The words to this hymn are resonating in a loop in my head. What comfort and joy it was on Saturday morning to welcome two shifts of volunteers and 183 families representing 668 individuals!  Twelve new families became part of our pantry community, too. Neighbors shopped in The Emergency Food Assistance Program room, gathered regular food items from the pantry, and collected their holiday meal as they exited the building. Thrivent donated fruitcakes and Bimbos donated lemon and cherry pies. Lois offered a blanket from Manual Woodworkers and elves were distributing candy canes to one and all.

 As you will notice in the pictures for this week, donations from the community were generous. Steady State was the featured band at the Blue Ghost fundraiser event, where $473.00 was raised to purchase food for the pantry.  Thank you for the comfort of having food to distribute and the joy of such a giving community.

 Just a reminder that volunteers are needed at the hoop house on Friday morning, December 29, at 8:30 to pick two rows of lettuce. We will be distributing the fresh lettuce on Saturday morning. Hope you can join us.

 Donations this week included Bimbos and City Bakery with bread and bakery items. Bright Farms donated 25 cases of salad.  Other donors include: Flavor-First-tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, Wal-Mart and Big Lots- misc items and food, Project Dignity-feminine products, Humane Society- dog/cat food and MilkCo-milk.  Calvary Episcopal, Nativity Lutheran, Fletcher UMC, the Tabernacle of Praise Churches, and other anonymous donors contributed their time, food, and misc. items during the week.

 On behalf of the Executive Committee, thank you to our volunteers and our area churches, civic groups, local merchants, and families for all you do to feed our community helping to reduce food insecurity.  We thank you and appreciate your food and monetary donations.

-- Kathy Noyes