Meeting the Needs of our Neighbors
Many of us love spring and summer with the opportunity to remove heavy clothing, open windows and doors and spend a good amount of time outside enjoying freedom and independence.
But as the weather changes, we are drawn toward the indoors- toward home. Where we expect warmth provided by the closeness of family and friends and good food to warm our insides, fill our belly and enable us to feel satisfied.
For many, even some in this congregation, food security is more accurately described as food insecurity. According to the Labor Department, after nearly two decades of low food inflation, prices for staples such as bread, milk, eggs, and flour are rising sharply, surging in the past year at double-digit rates. Milk prices, increased 26 percent over the year. Egg prices jumped 40 percent.
This translates into real dollars and cents for many families who are already stretched beyond their limits.
Read on to learn how you can help...
Some of these families are our neighbors who come to the Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry. Secure in knowing that on a Thursday or Friday within a thirty day period they will receive a package of staples, hopefully enough for three meals each day for three days. That food package helps to reduce their out of pocket costs for food and makes life a tad easier if only for one more day or a few meals. Receiving a Thanksgiving or Christmas basket saves a family of four who already have limited resources, about $45. The gift basket enables that family to enjoy the traditional holiday meal that much of America will enjoy without overspending, or simply spending money they don't have.
Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry Responds to this Challenge
As we always do, GACM will distribute Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to those in need. Because of limited resources and high demand, in addition to verifying income and household size of those requesting baskets, we will also have individuals complete a form indicating why they really need a basket. GACM staff will do its part to ensure those who get help, need help. And, we want to make certain that those who need help, get help too.
We need you and others at our partner and support congregations to help ensure enough food is available to make up the baskets. Last year we provided more than 100 baskets. It really was a miracle watching unexpected donations pour in enabling us to serve many more families than initially expected.
We also need you to tell us of individuals or families that you may know within our congregation or community who might need this assistance. Any aid from the Crisis Ministry is confidential.
Get Involved!
Beginning next Sunday, November 2 through the end of December, we will have a wheel barrow in the front of the church. The November and December month long collection needs to take place first, because each holiday falls after Celebration Sunday, our normal collection day. Second, we believe we will need more food and must rely on your generosity and conscious to help us. Each week during the first hymn you will be invited to bring up food for the ministry and place it in the wheelbarrow. I know many of you put your food donations in the box in the hall or give a check, all that is good! Yet nothing is like the visual witness of the food in the front of the church and knowing that you interacted with those donations. You shopped for them. You paid for them. You prayed for the family who will receive the food. And, as an offering, you bring the donations to the front of the church.
I challenge you to consider how you would change if every time you grocery shopped you were mindful of those who are hungry. Would you be inclined to buy more or less food? Would you forego purchasing "junk food" and instead purchase more nutritious items? Would you be as inclined to buy excess to fill your pantry, or would you be more intentional and purchase things to build a meal and share with others?
This exercise is not to make you feel bad or guilty. Instead, I believe it will help you to experience joy and gratitude as you respond to your rich blessings and relish the opportunity to bless others as you put food on the table of one who needs your help. And, you might be motivated to be a more savvy shopper (good steward) using coupons and promotions to maximize your dollars.
When we put our minds to it and God blesses it, we can do more for each other, even if we are doing it with less.
When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord - and God pays wonderful interest on your loan! Proverbs 19:17
If you would like to learn more how you can get involved, please feel free to contact me at or via phone at (215) 843-8811
About the Blogger:
Eileen Jones is the Director of Urban Ministry at First Pres and her responsibilities include leading programs and activities that engage the church in outreach to our immediate community. A significant part of that work is in her role as Director of the Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry housed in the church. Eileen is a graduate of Temple University with a Maters in Social Work degree.