An offshoot of our Little Free Pantry and our LEAD Team’s emphasis on neighborhood partnerships, this program began operations during the state of emergency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the most recent report of this drive-through and walk-up feeding program supported by a number of neighborhood partners, serving out of our parking lot Tuesday and Saturday from 10 am until 12 pm.

Weeks 29 and 30 Immanuel Food Distribution Ministry: October 3 – October 13   

While we’ve been averaging 92 people per week visiting our food distribution, this past week our number of guests dipped a little to 84. We’ve learned that our numbers can change from week to week, knowing that we have plenty of food for all who seek it. 

We are continuing to pick up food donated by the LDS church at the Eldersburg Walmart warehouse, managed by the Freedom District Lions Club. This is the last week for that distribution. This week Brenda and Pete picked up coffee packs, cheese sticks, and snacks from Performance Foods in New Windsor. Barry and Deb Bowdoin purchased 120 lbs. of chicken breasts on our behalf from Warrington Farm Meats in Dillsburg PA and bagged them. Deb keeps tabs of the sale ads in the Pennsylvania area. Carol Miller not only frequently goes to the Walmart warehouse for the LDS food, but she visits the UTZ factory for discounted snacks. We continue to receive produce and groceries from Miller’s Market and Weis Market, picked up by Rhonda Kiler every distribution day. The Humane Society provides free pet food and supplies every other Tuesday and are committed to do so until the end of the month. Many others donate generously to keep us well supplied with food. How thankful we are to all who support this ministry. 

There is an ongoing need for plastic grocery bags. We use 200-300 bags per week bagging groceries, snacks, produce, and perishable food for distribution. You can drop them off at church any weekday or Saturday morning.  

Also, since school is back in session we no longer have help from Ashton and Tanner Eckhardt with trash roundup. We could use assistance with gathering trash and breaking down boxes, especially on Tuesdays, the day trash goes out. If anyone is available Tuesdays 12:00-12:30 to volunteer to help us with trash we would be so grateful.  

Brenda, Pete, and I know that we couldn’t carry out this ministry without our hardworking volunteers. Many thanks to those who helped during this reporting period: Debbie Miller, Karen Haines, Yvonne Vandergucht, Doug Myers, Jeanne Kloss, Heidi Hess, Carol Miller, Rachel Murphy, Jeanne Swain, Karen Haines, Deb and Barry Bowdoin, Patt Hentz, and Jo Fleck. My daughter-in-law Holly and grandchildren returned for a third time on October 3.  On October 10, my daughter Kate drove from Fairfax VA to volunteer for a second time. Her friend Dave Traynor joined us as a first time volunteer.  

Food Distributed	Week 29: October 3-6	Week 30: October 10-13
Grocery bags	91	83
Snack bags	91	83
Milk	86 containers	76 containers
Bread and rolls	101	93
Eggs	90 dozen	70 dozen
Butter		20 lbs.
Cheese (1 lb. offered as alternative to meat)	15 lbs.	——
Mixed produce, corn, apples, potatoes,	102 bags	47 bags
Chicken (boneless) / stuffing	37 packs	20 packs
Chicken nuggets / tater tots	11	19 bags
Ground beef 1 lb. / skillet meal helper	20	——
Ground beef 1 lb. / chili fixings	——	30 kits
Ground turkey 1 lb. / skillet meal helper	6	——
Bakery items	32 units	33 units
Paper products	56	24
Juice	21	——
Condiments and sauces (mayo, ketchup, salsa)	32 containers	93 containers
Flour	20 bags	27 bags
Pet food	27 bags	6 bags

This week a man drove his neighbor who needed food to our distribution line from Water Tank Rd. While that might not seem unusual, note that the man was driving a lawn tractor as his neighbor was being pulled in an attached cart. Neither has a car. The driver didn’t ask for food but was happy to help his neighbor. We were glad to fill the cart. As a couple pulled up to be waited on, they plainly said “We need something to eat.” While they didn’t elaborate, they shared that they had a very rough week, thankful that we could provide food. A woman who has poured money into the repair of her old vehicle voices her frustration. A single mother, battling debt, turns to us as she pleads for assistance in finding someone who can help her manage her finances. 

Here we are Lord. Give us the tools to comfort, feed, reassure, and love each person we feed. Bless all those who continue to support and sustain this ministry.  Amen   

Christine Crouch 

LEAD Facilitator 

10/13/20