come to the truck when it’s parked at St. Andrew each month. T e pastors aren’t surprised.
Several times a month, especially since the economy declined in 2008, the church receives phone calls for assistance, including requests for rent and utilities money from people who have lost jobs. “I write checks all the time,” Meier said.
Meanwhile, in Texas … T e food pantry at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Baytown, Texas, 30 miles outside Houston, distributes gro- ceries to about 100 people weekly. Volunteers fi ll shopping bags with staple items, and participants are allowed to come twice a month. “We could do 1,000 bags each
week, the need is so great,” said Lor- rie Andrews, the volunteer greeter. But the church, which sees its mis- sion as “feed my sheep,” doesn’t have the resources for that, she added. Volunteers buy $250 of food
a week from the Houston Food Bank at 20 cents a pound, which is supplemented by donations from church members and leſt over bread from restaurants and grocery stores. “New people are coming all the
time,” Andrews said, “lining up at 7 a.m., two hours before we open.” When it’s not their week to come,
or when there are no more bags to give out, they’re advised to check other food programs in town. Week aſt er week the shelves are
stripped bare, but more food always comes in. “We’re like the loaves and fi shes church,” Andrews said. “We never seem to run out of food or donations.” When food is needed, the con-
gregation always steps up, she said. From December 2013 to March 2014, members contributed nearly $7,000. T e story is the same at Faith
Lutheran Church, Yucaipa, Calif., near Palm Springs. T e pantry once used by 90 families a week now serves 125, sometimes 140. Carol Jensen, chair of the social
concerns committee, organizes the Faith Food Pantry, which buys food at 19 cents a pound, enough staple items to fi ll a bag a week per participant. “In a bag we hope to have three
days of meals,” Jensen said. “We include a box of cereal, three kinds of proteins—usually tuna, beans and rice, and maybe chicken—canned fruit and veggies.” When the food and money run
out, members provide even more fi nancial support, some regularly giving $50 or more. “God provides,” Jensen said,
adding that the shelves were full when they started, and will be the
next time as well. She expressed disappointment,
however, at not being able to give turkeys for T anksgiving this year as in the past. “With money being tight, we haven’t been able to do it,” she said. “We’re asking the congre- gation all the time, so we decided not to ask this year.” Faith is eagerly anticipating host-
ing its annual Christmas party for kids of food pantry participants, complete with cookies and giſt s. “I get goose bumps, it feels so good to do this,” Jensen said.
Author bio: Healy is a freelance writer and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brews- ter, N.Y.
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November 2014 13
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