July 16, 2012
It is so hot you barely feel like even going outside, but no matter what the temperature, families need food. That may mean getting in a hot car and sitting and waiting for an hour for food but that is what 160 families including 8 new ones did last Thursday. We had 48 volunteers and could have used more. 23 more volunteers helped on Tuesday get the shelves ready. Families were give a box of sweets, bread, frozen chicken and milk in addition to their bag of groceries. Our shelves were almost depleted Thursday evening when we closed.
We really really need our congregation to help fill our shelves. We are in need of cereals, oatmeal, boxed dinners, crackers, boxed cake and brownie mixes, pasta, pasta sauce, really any non-perishable item would help. Thank you to the American Heritage girls who stood outside this past Saturday morning to collect food for us. You girls are so appreciated because we know you could have been doing something else. If you belong to a small group, offer to be a collection person for items or have a food drive at your work. The need in our community is huge.
Yesterday about 15 of our food pantry volunteers attended church at Hinkle Creek Friends church. For the past couple of years they have collected toiletries for our pantry as a congregation. Fred Knoll delivered their sermon. It was great to thank them in person for reaching out to our community with us as partners in Christ. If you have never been to the pantry come by any Tuesday morning from 9-12 or Thursday afternoon from around noon to 6pm. I guarantee your blessings will far outweigh any food you donate or time that you spend helping.
July 7, 2012
Another blazing hot Indiana afternoon brought in 135 families to the food pantry including 18 new families. They were helped by 17 volunteers on Tuesday that stocked and another 42 volunteers yesterday. We collected 3 fans that were given away to families living in unairconditioned homes. Folks were served cookies from Paradise cafe and ice tea and water as they waited in the air conditioned room for their names to be called. Many were relieved to have a cool place to sit and visit. It is only July and we still have plenty of hot weather ahead of us if anyone else wants to donate a fan we can find a good home for it.
We had lots of sweets and bread donated from Kroger and Marsh this week as well as a gallon of milk for each family. It was also laundry soap week so each family received a bottle. We are still looking for volunteers to help make laundry soap. I made 5 gallons on July 4 and it only took about a half an hour total and probably cost $2-$3.
We have recently partnered with Food Rescue which connected us with Little Caesers pizza. Larry Bultman, one of our faithful volunteers, goes to the Fishers store each week and brings back their Wednesday evening leftover pizzas. This week 9 of our biggest families were able to take a pizza home for dinner. Larry also takes our leftover bread each week to Open Door in Westfield for them to give away. Thanks for all you do Larry!
Our needs this week include healthy cereal, size 1 diapers, baby wipes, canned meats and toilet paper. Non food items cannot be bought with food stamps. As your tomatos and other garden produce ripens, please bring those items in as well. Thank you for all of your donations and prayers.
Hi Fred,
I'd like to help make some laundry soap. Please let me know the "recipe" and I'll do what I can to help. Thanks!
Jill Koons
Posted by: Jill Koons | 07/24/2012 at 11:17 AM