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.
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Report Weeks 73 and 74 Immanuel Food Distribution Ministry: August 7 – August 17, 2021
Immanuel’s food distribution ministry served 84 guests the week of August 7, and 86 guests this past week. We see an occasional new person come through, however lately we’ve also seen people who had come for food when we first opened, stopped coming, and now have returned for the food we offer.
Although milk prices are double what we paid for milk last year, we are blessed to be connected now with The Westminster Rescue Mission as a reliable source for donated frozen meat. Brenda was in touch with Caroline Babylon, Executive Director of Carroll County Food Sunday, who referred us to Harvie Combass, Food Director at the Westminster Rescue Mission. We now can pick up frozen meat as needed six days/week.
We have been giving out school supplies this week. These items were collected during Immanuel’s Vacation Bible School as a mission project. After August 22, any leftover supplies will be donated to local schools and Shepherd’s Staff.
Michele from MCQE provided much appreciated bags of pet food and supplies on Tuesday August 17, and will continue to come the third Tuesday of each month during our distribution time.
A sincere thank you is extended to our church members, community partners, and individual donors during this distribution period, knowing we couldn’t sustain this ministry without you.
Community Donations: August 7 – August 17, 2021
Manchester Baptist Church – 120 snack bags, each containing approximately 25 items
Westminster Rescue Mission – 93 packs of frozen meat (chicken, pork, beef)
Dutch Corner Restaurant – Susan Rill – lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, blueberries, deli salads, sour cream, ½ pints milk, yogurt
Grace Bible Church, New Freedom PA – 8 dozen eggs, 97 pantry items
Miller’s Market – produce donated each distribution day
Weis Market –85 bakery items – bread, bagels, rolls, pastries, cookies, pies, cakes, muffins, and desserts
Kate Wagner – 4 cases of eggs
Glenn Minnick/New Hope Fellowship Church – two large cases of paper products
Individual and Family Donations: August 7 – August 17, 2021
Ebert Harmony – 18 trays Pepperidge Farm bread products, picked up and delivered to church by Bill Skinner
Patty – cereal, pantry items, 20 loaves of bread
Rhonda Kiler – 12 dozen eggs, bread, rolls
Bobbi Planchon – 62 snack items, 60 canned vegetables, 24 cans tuna
Sharon Bowyer – Chard, kale, mint
Betty Smith – zucchini, squash, tomatoes
Ron – zucchini, eggplant, squash
Pat Poore – 2 dozen duck eggs, garden vegetables
Christine Gray – 2 dozen eggs, 4 boxes cereal, 14 soups, 4 large cans tuna
Anna McNelly – 12 boxes cereal
Gwen Hanson – 48 canned vegetables, 4 laundry detergent
Cindy Mullikin – 3 boxes crackers
Katherine Gorelick – $100 donation
Don Diseroad – $65.00 donation
Doug and Lynn Piper – $50.00 donation
Anonymous donors – items left in outdoor Little Free Pantry
Monetary contributions made directly to Immanuel Church
We warmly welcome Sharon Bowyer and Christine Gray to our group of volunteers. Sharon, a cousin of mine who lives in the community, has been working the distribution side. Christine, a friend of Cindy, has recently supplied us with eggs and pantry items. Thank you to our returning volunteers who worked during this reporting period: Carol Miller, Cindy Mullikin, Pastor Charlie, Jeanne Swain, Jeanne Kloss, Brenda Nagle, Patt Hentz, Owen and Gannon Hacksler, Holly Sater, Connor and Caitlin Insley, Rachel Murphy, Gwen Hanson, Deb Hebrank, and Karma Bradley-Smith.
Food Distributed | Week 73: August 7-10 | Week 74: August 14-17 |
Grocery bags | 80 | 86 |
Snack bags | 81 | 86 |
Milk | 72 containers | 81 containers |
Bread, rolls | 145 units | units |
Baked goods | 39 units | 46 units |
Eggs | 71 dozen | 83 units |
Mixed produce, lettuce, melons | 106 bags | 51 bags |
Ground beef (1lb) | 45 packs | 43 packs |
Chicken | 2 packs | 42 packs |
Hot dogs | 20 packs | ——- |
Cheese (1 lb) | 17 packs | ——- |
Butter (1/2 lb) | ——- | 10 packs |
Deli salads (6 oz) | 15 containers | 20 containers |
Bagels | ——- | 32 packs |
Paper products and toiletries | 28 bags | 30 bags |
As the pandemic continues, our food distribution ministry is surrounded by generosity. A woman dropped off some pantry donations, asked us what we needed, and then returned with 20 loaves of bread. Ebert’s beloved wife Linda passed away on August 7, and on August 12 he again made his midnight run to Upper Marlboro to pick up bread products at the Pepperidge Farm warehouse. Those with vegetable gardens are bringing us their surplus produce. These and many others share what they have and what they can give to keep us going. And whom do they feed? Those unable to cope with rising food prices, families with young children, elderly guests taking care of children or grandchildren, those looking out for their neighbors, veterans who share with homebound veterans in the community, and others who share their stories of loss, stress, illness, and need. We thank God that He has led us and blessed us as we continue this ministry.
Christine Crouch 8/19/21