Happy New Year! Welcome, 2023! Our first food distribution for the new year! The Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry was filled with enthusiastic volunteers and 121 "neighbors" ready to shop for three and one-half days of groceries or eleven meals. The neighbors represented 432 individuals and we welcomed nine new families.
Read MoreAround midnight on New Year's Eve as I listened to the words of that old familiar tune........"Should old acquaintances be forgot"....Absolutely Not!!!!! On behalf of the Executive Board of the Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry, we will never forget the many acts of kindness from individuals, generous donations, grants, and our volunteers throughout the year.
Read MoreVerse 2...."Deck the parking lot trailer with boxes of turkeys and sweet potatoes... "...Fa-la-la-la-la...Thanks to the men of Fletcher United Methodist Church who withstood the frigid temperatures to distribute our Christmas meal items to our neighbors. Our annual Christmas meal included a turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, broccoli, muffin mix, rolls, and butter.
Read MoreDeck the Halls with....oops...."Deck the loading dock with tables of toys"...Fa-la-la-la-la...Thanks to the handcrafted toys by the Apple Country Woodcrafters of Hendersonville, donations from individuals, and Wal-mart....our neighbors left with toys for the young ones. Bob and Kathy Armstrong, members of the ACW, stopped by on Saturday as toys were being distributed. Along with the wooden toys, there were also quilts, bears, and dolls that were sewn /quilted to accompany the toys. We are so appreciative of the time and talents of the crafters and sharing with our pantry.
Read MoreWas just about to leave the pantry early this afternoon, when Lois and her sister Liz, arrived with a load of yummy Carolina Crunch Lettuce donated by Bright Farms in Etowah . We were busy unpacking the boxes and placing the lettuce into the frig when there was the sound of clickity-clack of one of our buggies being pushed to a vehicle. Venturing out to offer a hand, I met a pleasant lady named Jennifer, who had a donation of items many of which were mentioned in our newsletter or website.
Read More"It's beginning to look like Christmas" as we were blessed with several new volunteers this past Saturday. The Bartlett family and Mitchell Bullard were a "gift" to us along with our other volunteers helping to distribute food to our neighbors. As our neighbors arrived, Chef Martha was busily preparing French toast for sampling.
Read MoreIt's the "Nibble Before the Gobble"! Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry parking lot was filled with cars lining up in the wee hours of the morning. Our neighbors were eager to shop for food and pick up items for their Thanksgiving Dinner. Volunteers navigated through the parking lot carefully and positioned themselves at their stations to assist in the distribution. Much gratitude to our donors, area churches, and individuals who contributed funds or food items to ensure we were able to assist in helping to reduce food insecurity in our community. We served 177 households, representing 606 individuals, and welcomed 15 new neighbors.
Read MoreThis past Saturday you would have thought we had tickets on sale for the Super Bowl. Many of our neighbors were in line on the campus before 6:00 a.m. It was another record-breaking day at the Center of Hope, as we welcomed 122 Households, representing 430 individuals, and 14 new clients. Ahhhh.... as neighbors entered the building, Chef Martha was busy toasting bread for our neighbors to sample topped with eggs or jelly, cinnamon, etc. all items from our pantry.
Read MoreThis week let's celebrate our outdoor team of volunteers. Until I walked in Dan's shoes, who distributes numbers on Saturdays, didn't quite get the accurate picture of his job. Last Saturday was the church Barbeque Dinner and while Dan was smoking pork on the grill with his comrades, he ambles over to the Pantry about 6:45 a.m. and passes out 40 numbers to our "neighbors" whose cars were lined up to the entrance. Did I mention it was dark, drizzling, and breezy?
Read MoreThis past week before Halloween was all treats and no tricks! Monday began with a trunk load of items from Bethany Methodist Church of Fairview to help our new neighbors to the area through the winter with quilts, blankets, and coats. Tuesday baskets of food items from Lutheran Church of the Nativity, were waiting in the foyer to be weighed and shelved. We received over 5,000 pounds of food from Manna. Some of the items included were apples, zucchini, sweet potatoes, cabbage, carrots, winter squash, Idaho potatoes, turkeys, and chicken.
Read MoreThe Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry is much more than distributing food on Saturdays. Walking through the doors of the Center of Hope you are welcomed by the Pantry family just as you receive friends into your home. Our Pantry family takes the time to chat with the neighbors while shopping with them, receiving the milk, eggs, and produce, or as carts are moving toward their transportation. Our Pantry is successful because of the camaraderie among our volunteers and neighbors and I must include our support from you in the community, especially our area churches. Some of you who are homebound keep up by reading our newsletter and have emailed me that you have collected toothbrushes or even egg cartons for us.
Read MoreAs part of the Salt and Light Project at VERITAS Christian Academy, their third-grade classrooms choose us to be the recipients of their outreach program. Students collected over a hundred pounds of diapers to donate to the Pantry. They spent time decorating note cards with fall pictures and special messages to be given to our neighbors on Saturday. Two volunteers from the Pantry shared with the students about the importance of the Pantry and how we are helping to reduce food insecurity in the community.
Read MoreWhat a glorious Saturday morning at the Center of Hope! Not only were the volunteers bustling about but also the UNC Pharmacy Eshleman School of Pharmacy interns setting up for blood pressure and glucose checks. Flu vaccines were also offered to neighbors and volunteers. We are very appreciative of Walgreens sponsoring this event. 113 households representing 389 individuals and seven new neighbors shopped for healthy food choices this week.
Read MoreIan.. Ian go away.... come again any day but Saturday! Many thanks to the hardy souls who participated in the food distribution on Saturday as Hurricane Ian moved through North Carolina. 111 Households representing 357 individuals and eight new neighbors shopped for healthy food choices this week.
Read MoreSWAP......Supporting Wellness At Pantries MANNA held a “Feeding WNC Conference” in Waynesville last Wednesday. Martha, Carol, and Kathy had the opportunity to learn from agency leaders about how they create uniquely welcoming and dignified experiences for every neighbor who enters their doors.
Read MoreWhat a blessing it has been this week to have thirty students and their advisors from Christ School select our pantry for their Day of Service. Calvary has been instrumental in offering opportunities for Christ School students to serve our community throughout the years. This past Wednesday, our day began with prayer in the labyrinth led by Father J. The students worked from 9:00-12:00 in the garden weeding, mulching, and preparing the garden beds for the winter months.
Read MoreAfter two years of virtual walks for the Hunger Coalition Walk, Joyce Jolly, president of the Hunger Coalition of Henderson County, shared with local agencies who distribute food in Henderson County how excited it was to be back in Jackson Park for the Hunger Walk 2022! This is the 40 th year for this event that raises money to assist local agencies in providing food for those who need it!
Read MoreLabor Day, a holiday, that was celebrated this past Monday got me thinking about the "labor" at the Food pantry, garden, and all the wrap round responsibilities required each week for a successful distribution of food. On behalf of the Executive Committee, will you join us in recognizing the 50+ volunteers it takes each week to provide the "client choice model" where we offer a variety of foods within a special category.
Read MoreThis past Saturday was full of activity as 93 families representing 284 individuals and four new families shopped for food for three and one half days of meals. Part of our produce this week came from the St. Andrew and Rotary Gleaners. Blackberries, potatoes, and tomatoes were among the items delivered for distribution.
Read MoreHmmmmm....no it's not the aroma of pumpkin spice that welcomed our neighbors on Saturday! Why it's Chef Martha preparing a tasty salsa with fresh vegetables from the garden and Tractor.Food and Farms. Later in the morning she offered a jiffy cornmeal waffle. Our morning was quite busy with 106 families representing 336 individuals and seven new families who continue to be offered an opportunity to taste nutritious items from our pantry and the recipe.
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