It doesn’t take long for a year to pass when you are busy. Our 50 volunteers in the Benevolence Ministry will testify how quickly it seems their monthly work day comes around. They are VIP’s who make our ministry work.

Records kept for the previous 12 months (October 2010 to October 2011) show we have provided food to 2,346 households. Within these households are 3,624 individuals. That’s a lot of groceries! Just when we think the pantry is stocked well, the shelves need filling again. We have 34 families in to see us each day we are opened.

To date this year we have spent $20,200 for food putting us well over our food budget. This doesn’t count the value of the food donations we have received during the year. Our needs are as great as ever and we have 2½ months left in this budget year. We always under budget for food expenses hoping that throughout the year we will have adequate donations to cover our needs. We need your help this year because grocery prices have risen considerably.

We can use the following items to fill the pantry and ask that you use this list when doing your shopping:

• Canned vegetables – Tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, corn, carrots, peas, black eyed peas, pork ‘n beans, mixed vegetables.
• Canned meats – Tomato sauce with meat, tuna, chicken, Vienna sausage, spam, canned stew.
• Soups – cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, tomato, chicken noodle
• Other items – cheese n’ macaroni, cereal, peanut butter, grape jelly, spaghetti.

We always like to get the actual food item but for those who find it impossible to shop, a cash donation marked for the food pantry will be appreciated.

This congregation makes a difference in many ways other than food. But for this occasion our concentration is on food. You can stretch your food dollar by purchasing store value brands – Kroger Value, Wal-Mart Value, etc. This is helps in stretching our food budget each year. You can find almost all items on the above shopping list as a value item in these stores.

Thank you for getting prepared to make this our best Harvest Sunday.