Living on Mission

Food Pantry News: update from May 16, 2013

Wow, I cannot believe we are celebrating the beginning of our 8th year at the pantry. Through God's provision countless lives have been changed through the vehicle of food. People come to fill the physicial needs of their family but many leave with emotional and spiritual needs filled. We celebrated the life of one of our longtime pantry guests yesterday, Kate Staton. I feel confident where Kate is and would even go so far to say the pantry helped her have eternal life with our heavenly father. So next time you are putting a can or box in a bag to donate, pray for the person who's life you may be touching with your donation.

May 9th we had 146 families, including 8 new families. They were assisted by 20 volunteers on Tuesday and 66 volunteers on Thursday.

May 16 we had 152 families including 12 new families. They were assisted by 24 volunteers on Tuesday and 58 volunteers on Thursday.

Please don't feel like we have enough volunteers. Some of our volunteers are only able to help an hour or 2. We could use 60-70 volunteers a week. There are so many things that need to be done to get this many families through from 3-6pm and clean up. Starting at noon we need help. Please feel free to come to the pantry any Thursday from noon to 6pm that you are available.

Our needs this week include cereal, cake mix, brownie mix, flour, sugar, oil, boxed dinners, canned meats, rice, beans, noodles, dish soap and diapers and wipes.

Thank you again for supporting our community!

Food Pantry News: April 2013

She suffered through a childhood with an alcoholic father and later found herself in an abusive relationship. She met a man who told her they would be married within the first hour they met. Her lack of trust due to past relationships caused her to have obvious doubts. Now, after 7 years of marriage, they are making it all work with help from the pantry to make ends meet. She works at a factory and he completes his daily paper route as they share one vehicle. They worship together at a local church on Sundays and do it all over again the next week. This is just one example of the hard working people that we are blessed to do life with at our pantry.

Our numbers for April 11 were 150 families including 6 new ones. They were assisted by 22 people on Tuesday that stocked shelves and 56 that helped on Thursday. On April 18 we had 149 families including 13 new families. They were assisted by 22 volunteers on Tuesday and 55 volunteers on Thursday and a group from Circle of Friends. Last Thursday we had 147 families, including 9 new ones. They were assisted by  30 volunteers on Tuesday and  60 volunteers on Thursday.

Our needs include cereal, oatmeal, boxed dinners, canned meats and vegetables, jelly and peanut butter.  Don't forget that this Saturday the postal service will be having their food drive and our pantry is a recipient. Please put a few things in a plastic bag and put them near your mailbox.

Thank you for all of your donations and your prayers.

Soap Matters

The first Thursday of the month anywhere from 150-200 families are given home-made laundry detergent when they come through the food pantry. The soap is made by volunteers from our congregation by following a simple recipe.  150 bottles of homemade laundry soap has saved over $500 a month from having to purchase store bought detergent, which can then go towards food!

One of the life groups have made soap making their monthly service project. They pick up pizza and gather at the church to use the church kitchen, let the kids play in the Discovery Room (and even help some) while they fellowship and serve a need for our food pantry guests.

When life group leader, Eric Powers, was asked why they chose soap making as their service project, he gave these reasons:

1. The time commitment is not too demanding. 
2. It can be done when the group is most available.
3. It is an activitiy that can be scaled up or down depending on the number of participants.
4. It fulfills an actual need in the community and wasn't just a job created to give us something to do.
5. It is also time for our families to hang out, share a meal, and make stronger connections while serving.
6. It also allows our kids to participate in a small amount.

Dee Clymer makes it by herself in the comfort of her own home. She says, "It's a great way to help in a huge way without it being expensive." By the time you make a 5 gallon bucket, it costs you roughly $5. That's $1 per gallon of laundry soap. You can't beat that!

If you are interested in being a part of the soap making team visit wrcc.org/soapmatters.

Food Pantry News: from April 11, 2013

She lost her job. He has a job but doesn't make enough to feed his 4 kids. She didn't get her child support check. She is off work due to an illness and only get 60% of her check. They are taking care of her sisters kids because their mom has issues. She is on a fixed income and can't afford her medicine and food. These are all true instances of individuals who visit our pantry. Our place is not to be judgmental of their reason but to accept them where they are at just as Jesus accepts us where we are.

Last Thursday we had 143 families, including 9 new ones. They were helped by 25 individuals on Tuesday stocking and 58 volunteers on Thursday. If you have never visited the pantry, feel free to stop by and take it tour. It is set up like a grocery store but there is no cash register at the end. Families can pick out their own bread, cereal, milk, vegetables and so on. We appreciate each item that you donate. If you haven't donated in a while, below are our needs. Put a few items in your car right now to drop off next time you come to church.

We need cereal, oatmeal, cream of wheat, pancake mix, cake and brownie mix (everyone has a birthday) jello, pudding, oil, flour, sugar, canned vegetables, juices, peanut butter, crackers, boxed dinners, canned meat, and dish soap. Thank you for everything that you give.

Have a great week!

Food Pantry News: from April 4, 2013

Spring has finally sprung! We were happy to be able to prop the pantry door open last Thursday to greet 158 guests, including 8 new ones. There were 29 volunteers on Tuesday stocking and 61 on Thursday helping folks. We had a couple of guests riding their bikes in to get groceries because that is their only means of transportation.

We received the sad news that one of our pantry volunteers Sandra Ellis had expectantly passed away that morning. It reminds us that no one knows when this life will be over.  Our prayers go out to her family.

We are continuing to weigh our donations for the Feinstein challenge. Our needs this week include pancake mix and syrup, oatmeal, cake and brownie mix, jello, pudding, canned meat, snacks, dish soap and baby wipes.

Food Pantry News

The following is a summary of the number of people that have come through our food pantry doors in the past month.

March 8 we had 150 families including 16 new families, 24 volunteers on Tuesday and 58 volunteers on Thursday

March 15 we had 153 families including 10 new families, 22 volunteers on Tuesday and 50 volunteers on Thursday

March 22 we had 151 families including 13 new families, 24 volunteers on Tuesday and 65 volunteers on Thursday

March 28 we had 169 families including 12 new families, 22 volunteers on Tuesday and 68 volunteers on Thursday

As you can see, our numbers are staying consistently high.  We appreciate your food donations and volunteer hours. This past week I was introduced to a guest that came to the pantry several years ago when we were in a small area at the church. The woman explained that she was feeling very down and broken when she came through the door. She was out of money and needed diapers and wipes for her baby. She came a few minutes after we closed but she was greeted by someone that was willing to help her. I am so grateful that we had the items to meet her physical needs and that someone was here to meet her emotional need.

We had another family that consistently had to depend on our pantry while they were living in Suburban Estates in Noblesville. They moved to Bloomington about a year ago. This past week was the kids Spring Break and they wanted to come to the pantry and Thursday night dinner because they always felt so much love there. What a blessing that our pantry recipients give and receive as well as volunteers. It is through your donations that our pantry doors remain open each week.

We hope you had a blessed Easter weekend. Thank you Jesus for what you endured on the cross for each one of us.

Food Pantry News: from February 21 & 28, 2013

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" James 2:16

Our numbers for the past 2 weeks are as follows: February 21 we had 150 guests including 7 new families. 13 volunteers on Tuesday and 57 volunteers on Thursday. February 28 we had 153 families, 10 new families, 15 volunteers on Tuesday and 53 volunteers on Thursday. As you can see, our numbers are staying consistently high.

We have the Feinstein challenge currently going on. Each donation will be weighed and a portion of our poundage will be matched. We also received a check from Kroger from their "Share the Feast" food drive in November and December for $2505! They also gave us food donations of canned roast beef, instant mashed potatoes, canned soup, peaches and vegetables as well as crackers. We are so grateful how God provides!

Our needs this week include cereal, pancake mix and syrup, canned vegetables, canned meats and diapers.

Food Pantry News: from February 14, 2013

We had 131 families including 5 new ones on Valentines Day last Thursday. They were assisted by 12 volunteers on Tuesday and 51 volunteers on Thursday. All of the female volunteers were surprised with a rose to thank them. We could not go week to week without our wonderful volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please contact Deb Diaz at DKMDiaz@aol.com.

I want to share a story with you. Paula came to our food pantry several months ago excited about getting landlord approval for her new rental house. We were concerned as her social security income was slightly less than her monthly rent. Paula was convinced that God would provide for her needs as she sought out potential roommates. She began attending worship services and White River members continued to reach out to her in the form of furniture, wood and food donations. Her friend moved in with her and wanted to help with the bills. We gave her an employment lead and she got the job! Praise God for the way He provides for those in need through those that are willing to walk with them. This is one of the many stories we see lived out each week.

Our needs this week include dish soap, paper towels, spinach, peas, canned meats, kleenex, boxed dinners and baby wipes. Have a blessed week.

Food Pantry News: from January 24, 2013

What one thing can anyone do to help make another persons day a little better? Share breakfast. Studies have shown that kids who have breakfast are more focused in the classroom, have increased physical activity and are happier as well as healthier. Breakfast food are the biggest quantity of food that we give out. We always need healthy (not sugary) cereals, oatmeal (instant and cooked) cream of wheat, pancake mix, grits, breakfast bars, peanut butter and jelly.

We had 166 families this week including 14 new families. They were assisted by 17 volunteers on Tuesday and 58 volunteers on Thursday. Every week each family is given a gallon of milk which helps build strong bones, fresh produce and bread. As stated above we need healthy breakfast food as well as juices.

We always love having new volunteers as well. Come see what happens some Thursday afternoon. We need help from 4-6 and especially from 5-6. I truly believe you will receive more from volunteering than you could ever dream of giving.

Food Pantry News: from January 3, 2013

I pray that everyone reading this newsletter is having a healthy and Happy New Year!  We had 132 families last week including 6 new ones. Tuesday was New Year's Day so no one stocked that day, but we had 62 volunteers on Thursday.

It is hard to know if we are really helping any families by providing food unless you are at the pantry each week and see the progress made in lives and hear the stories. We got to rejoice with 2 people this week that have found jobs and will not be needing to come to the pantry. We also got to rejoice with a single mom that got a Lilly grant to take education courses at IUPUI.  This is just a small number of the people our pantry has been "a stepping stone" for during a rough patch in their life.

Our needs this week include flour, sugar, canned meats, oil, jello, pudding, canned soups, condiments, toilet paper, and dish soap.

Thank you for your weekly sacrifices for others and more importantly for the Kingdom of God by being the hands and feet of Jesus