KINDNESS CAN'T BE MASKED
Despite Restriction, Love Lives On
By Dan Philips
Our church doors may be closed, but our hearts are always open.
FUMC Community Ministries have always strived to provide important services to our neighbors in need. When the pandemic hit, it presented us with unique challenges and opportunities. The challenges include providing meaningful outreach while maintaining a safe healthy environment for all. The opportunity is to show our neighbors that God is always with us even when it seems the rest of the world is not. The pandemic did change our methods, but not our mission: to deliver blessings with care, compassion, and a positive loving attitude that reflects God's love for us all.
For example, Loaves & Fish is not just a restaurant or grocery store where people get groceries and meals. It is a safe place where neighbors and friends meet, and where all are loved and cared for without judgement or prejudice. Yes, it is also a place where you can get groceries, lunch, and basic needs like hygiene items, incontinent supplies, feminine hygiene items, and handmade protective masks.
Since mid-March we have operated Loaves & Fish as a carry-out program, serving about 150 neighbors each week with a nutritious lunch and pantry items. In addition, we also offer bread and bakery items, as well as dairy and produce thanks to a government program called Farmers to Families. This program provides fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy products each week to help both the farmers and our neighbors in need. We serve each Saturday from 10 AM - 1 PM, instead of starting at 11:30 AM as we previously have done. This enables us to reach more and to reduce the number of people in-line at one time. We also serve at the overhang entrance, on the corner of Main and SE Perry, to give our neighbors a better place to socially distance as they wait in line.
In the pre-COVID days, we would serve with 45-65 volunteers each week coming from all over our community. Today, due to Health Department rules, we limit the number of volunteers to nine or ten each week. Even though our methods may have changed, our mission has not. Every bag that is packed, and every lunch that is made, is done for our brothers and sisters, and with God’s love.
Recently, the Winkler family at Peoria Charter Coach, sponsored a food drive at the local HyVee markets where they collected food to help the families we serve. What a joy it was to see that giant Peoria Charter coach pull up to FUMC overflowing with blessings. There were so many donations, that we were able to share some of these blessings with other area food banks in need of food.
Thank you to all that continue to support Loaves & Fish with your gifts, your service, and your prayers.
Our church doors may be closed, but our hearts are always open.
FUMC Community Ministries have always strived to provide important services to our neighbors in need. When the pandemic hit, it presented us with unique challenges and opportunities. The challenges include providing meaningful outreach while maintaining a safe healthy environment for all. The opportunity is to show our neighbors that God is always with us even when it seems the rest of the world is not. The pandemic did change our methods, but not our mission: to deliver blessings with care, compassion, and a positive loving attitude that reflects God's love for us all.
For example, Loaves & Fish is not just a restaurant or grocery store where people get groceries and meals. It is a safe place where neighbors and friends meet, and where all are loved and cared for without judgement or prejudice. Yes, it is also a place where you can get groceries, lunch, and basic needs like hygiene items, incontinent supplies, feminine hygiene items, and handmade protective masks.
Since mid-March we have operated Loaves & Fish as a carry-out program, serving about 150 neighbors each week with a nutritious lunch and pantry items. In addition, we also offer bread and bakery items, as well as dairy and produce thanks to a government program called Farmers to Families. This program provides fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy products each week to help both the farmers and our neighbors in need. We serve each Saturday from 10 AM - 1 PM, instead of starting at 11:30 AM as we previously have done. This enables us to reach more and to reduce the number of people in-line at one time. We also serve at the overhang entrance, on the corner of Main and SE Perry, to give our neighbors a better place to socially distance as they wait in line.
In the pre-COVID days, we would serve with 45-65 volunteers each week coming from all over our community. Today, due to Health Department rules, we limit the number of volunteers to nine or ten each week. Even though our methods may have changed, our mission has not. Every bag that is packed, and every lunch that is made, is done for our brothers and sisters, and with God’s love.
Recently, the Winkler family at Peoria Charter Coach, sponsored a food drive at the local HyVee markets where they collected food to help the families we serve. What a joy it was to see that giant Peoria Charter coach pull up to FUMC overflowing with blessings. There were so many donations, that we were able to share some of these blessings with other area food banks in need of food.
Thank you to all that continue to support Loaves & Fish with your gifts, your service, and your prayers.
