November 29, 2023
You may have heard about The Elf on the Shelf, a picture book for children where the Elf hides in people's homes to watch over holiday events. Our Pantry has its own Elf who watches over our Pantry. It's Elf on a Rack, a food rack. Our Elf has a sack and is asking for a food item for his holiday Sack. Items will be distributed on Saturdays to our neighbors between 8:00-11:00. Please help our Elf on the Rack fill his Food Sack.
On Saturday, we welcomed many volunteers who took time after celebrating with family and friends on Thanksgiving to help us distribute food. Just know that your volunteering presence is our present. We welcomed 83 families and 287 individuals. There were four new families.
Thrivent, a not-for-profit financial service founded by Lutherans, offers grants to its members. Michael Neal was awarded a grant and purchased 75 fruit cakes for distribution with our Christmas meal on December 18. What a welcome additional for our neighbors!
Manna delivery this week was about 10,000 pounds. Some of the items received were Holiday boxes from Food Lion and Manna. Fresh produce consisting of squash, onions, potatoes, mixed boxes of can goods, and condiments. We received many items at no cost to our pantry from The Emergency Food Assistance Program, known as TEFAP.
Donations this week included Bimbos, Panera, and City Bakery with bread and bakery items. Bright Farms donated 25 cases of salad. Other donors include Flavor-First-tomatoes , peppers, squash, zucchinis, cucumbers; Wal-Mart and Big Lots-misc items and food; Project Dignity-feminine products; Humane Society- dog/cat food; and Milk Co-milk. Nativity Lutheran, Fletcher UMC, Calvary Episcopal, the Tabernacle of Praise Churches, and other anonymous donors contributed their time, food, and misc. items during the week.
On behalf of the Executive Committee, thank you to our volunteers and our area churches, civic groups, local merchants, and families for all you do to feed our community helping to reduce food insecurity. We thank you and appreciate your food and monetary donations.
