Food Pantry Mission: Serve by Helping Others
First United Methodist Church has a food pantry which helps many in our community who are hungry.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35
THE FOOD PANTRY
We are open Thursday and Friday from 9:00 am to Noon. We need volunteers to cover this time each week. There will be someone with experience to work with you the first time. We generally work in pairs. Sign up with a friend. Feel free to bring your kids. Bring something to do in the down time. (Your laptop, a book, your knitting.) The church also has Wi-Fi.
It is very easy work. All it takes is a willingness to help others. Please consider helping with this valuable mission of our church. Sign-up sheets are On-Line. If you have questions, please contact the office at 620-342-6186.
If you would like to donate food items, you may place them in the grocery cart or the designated bin in the Narthex. (See below for a list of suggested items.) If you would prefer to donate cash and have us buy in bulk, look for sales, and be able to use tax exempt, please designate your check or cash to ‘Food Pantry’. All donations are greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for your continued support of this mission!
PANTRY ITEMS NEEDED
Meat: Cans or pouches of tuna, potted meat, chicken, Vienna sausages, spam, luncheon loaf, or fish.
Meal in a Can: Cans of soup, pasta, or chili.
Milk: Boxes or pouches of dry milk.
Breakfast Items: Boxes of cereal, boxes of cereal bars (8-10 count). Boxes of oatmeal (6-10 count).
Vegetables: Cans of corn, cream corn, peas, mixed vegetables, potatoes or green beans.
Fruit: Cans or plastic jars of peaches, pineapple, pears, mixed fruit, apple sauce, or oranges. Single serving cups of fruit, jello, or pudding.
Peanut butter/Jelly: Small plastic jars.
Crackers/Cookies: Boxes of saltines, dry cookies-vanilla wafers, or animal crackers.
Boxed Potatoes/Pasta: Boxes or pouches of hamburger/tuna helper, potatoes, or pasta meals.
Mac n Cheese/Cup of Soups: Boxes of mac n cheese, cups of mac n cheese or soups.
Toilet Paper: Packages of 4 rolls.
Personal Items: Regular size or travel size: toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes (singles), soap, shampoo. conditioner, and lotion.
PLEASE, NO GLASS JARS, UNWRAPPED OR REWRAPPED ITEMS, FROZEN, REFRIGERATED, OR HOMEMADE ITEMS.
THANK YOU!
First United Methodist Church has a food pantry which helps many in our community who are hungry.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35
A Success Story to Share
I want to share a success story that our church made possible and I personally have witnessed. It is a part of my job to distribute groceries to families and individuals in need in our community. I keep a log of whom we have helped and encourage the recipients to only come twice a month so we are able to help as many people as possible.
I usually try to strike up a conversation with whoever comes in. This is how I met ‘Susan’.
‘Susan’ was a person that came in regularly for assistance. She is a single mother trying to make ends meet. We would often talk about our children, what new thing was happening in her life and we even swapped a few recipes. She didn’t like to ask for help. But she didn’t have much choice. The cost of raising teenagers alone and trying to make their life better was expensive. I was happy to help with what I could provide her from the church. I knew she was searching hard to find a job that would pay her enough to provide for her family but with no luck. Then she began coming in less and less, until she stopped coming altogether. I thought that either her situation had changed or she had moved. That is common for a lot of the persons that I help through the church, and I usually never know the answer. But one day I happened to be eating in a local restaurant with my dad and step-mom and the waitress came up to take our order. It had been well over a year but I knew right away it was ‘Susan’. I was hesitant to say anything to her because I didn’t want to embarrass her and I also felt a sense of confidentiality that I didn’t want to break. But she had none of those reservations! She recognized me immediately and even hugged me. She thanked me over and over for how much this church had helped her when she was ‘down on her luck’. She went on to tell me that she had been working as a waitress for a while and was able to get off assistance. She was so appreciative of the help she had received from this church. First United Methodist Church has made a difference in her life and her children’s lives. I know you don’t get to meet the people that come to the church, sometimes with their heads down, asking for help, but I am here to tell you that we do make a difference.
I witness it daily. The gifts of food that you contribute for our pantry can be a life-saver for someone ‘down on their luck’.
I appreciate every donation, no matter how large or small. It all counts.
Kathy Herrera, Email: kathyh@fumchurch.org
Administrative Assistant
First United Methodist Church