Today we set up all the canopies because rain seemed to be on the way, with light sprinkles all morning. By the time we opened at 1:00pm, it was sunny, and the canopies were great for shade. It was a busy day today, and it felt even busier.

Groceries today were delivered by Crossroads Bible, Cornerstone, Creekside Covenant, Westminster Chapel, and Bellevue Presbyterian churches. A total of 147 orders came in and all but a few went out to families, 8 by delivery. The remaining few will go out as deliveries tomorrow. About 25 new families entered the program, so there were new faces all afternoon. Thank you!

One part of this program not profiled before is the diaper/pull-up preparation which happens each afternoon. Diapers are stored in their boxes, which are easy to stack. For use, however, we need the unpacked and the larger bundles cut in half. We aim to give 30-50 diapers per order. The afternoon crew replenishes the supply of “ready-to-go” diapers, so the next day will have the ability to grab quickly during the rush. It usually takes two people an hour or two, depending on how many need to be replenished. It’s a task which goes unseen by most, but is vital to this program.

Tuesday is the main day we portion out the bulk food (rice, pinto beans, flour, sugar, salt) from large bags to small zip-lock. It takes a crew of 4-5 on the AM shift to power through the large portion of it. In the afternoon, anyone standing around in need of a job, starts scooping. By the end of the day, many bins are full and ready for the end of the week distribution to families. Today, the holding area of the bulk food is FULL.

Lunches were delivered to 24 seniors in the community today by Barb (Jubilee Hospitality Manager) and her crew. One note which already came back says “Thank you, Theresa. Always VERY delicious! It’s a big effort for all, much appreciated.”

Thanks for a great day. It’s so nice in the mornings to see all the shoppers dropping off grocery orders. It’s clear people are having fun and enjoying being involved. We’re grateful for everyone contributing, as it takes us all to keep this moving along.

Have a great evening,

Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH
On behalf of the Jubilee family

Groceries for Families: Week 8 - Day 2

Groceries for Families: Week 8 - Day 3

Groceries for Families: Week 8 - Day 1