Today was very similar to yesterday. Even the weather was the same – cool in the morning with the nice sun coming out just in time for 1:00pm. The pace today was busy but calm. With seven churches delivering groceries, there was a lot of activity in the morning. Families started lining up at 12:15pm and kept us busy right to 3:00pm.

Groceries today came from Overlake Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Bellevue Presbyterian, Redeemer, Kalos, Sacred Heart, and Doxa churches. A total of 150 were delivered and all went out to families, including 14 by delivery. The last order was picked up at 3:10pm, and, fortunately, no one else came later, as we were out of groceries. Thank you for a great day!

Bulk food ingredients were offered today, as is always the case Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Families can choose from Pinto Beans, Rice, Flour, Sugar, and Salt. Sticks of butter are added to all orders. Families can bring a container for cooking oil any day. The goal is to give them common ingredients with which they can cook and bake. We get great feedback from families regularly. Thank you to those who donated these items!

Frozen chicken is being given to each family Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. This has been much harder for us to acquire in bulk in the last two weeks. Thank you to everyone who has been bringing fresh and frozen chicken all week. It looks like we have enough right now to give everyone the much-needed protein. Thank you!

Box lunches arrived early today from the Bellevue School District and were offered to families in the market. We’ve learned a better way to give box lunches out is to station a Spanish speaking crew member at the parking lot exit. This person is Rosario, and she is wonderful at passing out at least half the lunches taken in a day. Thank you to her for standing out there for two hours twice a week. Thank you to the BSD and Microsoft for the lunches!

A food truck will be in the Jubilee REACH parking lot tomorrow from 4-7pm serving Mediterranean food. A church is sponsoring vouchers for the families, distributed in the morning, to invite them back for dinner. If you can also come for dinner, it would be great to give the truck more business. The goal is to feed the families and give the truck some much needed revenue. Cash customers are welcome, so consider yourself invited.

A few emails from families to share:

Buenos dias y mil gracias por todo el trabajo que ustedes hacen por la comunidad por todo el apoyo que mi familia y muchas familias recibimos. Y sobre todo ese excelente detalle que tubieron para las mama esta semana pasada. Fue muy bonito recibir Flores y chocolates, mas por las que somos mamas solas con hijos que no trabajan DIOS le bendiga.

Good morning and a thousand thanks for all the work you are all doing for the community, for all the support my family and many families are receiving. And above all, that excellent thought you had for the moms last week. It was really beautiful receiving flowers and chocolates, especially because we're moms who are alone with children who don't work. God bless you.

En estos momentos dificiles estan ustedes Aqui para ayudarnos con nuestra despensa. Y gracias tambien por ayudarnos con la renta. Estamos agradecidos y bendecidos. Muchisimas Gracia por su tiempo y dedicacion. Que Dios les de muchas bendiciones. Y los mantengan de Buena Salud a ustedes y su familia.

In these difficult moments you guys are here to help us with our groceries. And thank you for helping us with our rent. We are thankful and blessed. Thank you for your time and dedication. May God give you many blessings. And keep you in good health to you and your family.

Here is the second email we’ve received of someone being able to sustain themselves, so exiting the program:

Hola! Buenas tardes. Quiero agradecer por toda la ayuda que me han brindado en momentos muy difíciles muchas gracias a todos. Voy a recibir beneficios para comprar comida entonces no necesitaré más comida.Dios me los bendiga y proteja.

Hello! Good afternoon. I want to thank you for all the help you have given me in these very difficult moments. Many thanks to all. I am going to receive benefits to shop for food so I will not be needing more groceries. God bless you and protect you.

It is clear many of the goals/hopes/dreams of this program are being met. Families are receiving food. Families can use their food budget for things like rent, power, gas. Families can feel secure that food will come, so can worry about other stresses in their lives. Our hope is families also feel loved by this community, with no strings attached. May they know people around them care and are here to support them in this tremendous time of need. May they feel hope, encouragement, and a belief that they can make it through this crisis. May they know that many, many people are praying for them. May they know God loves them and is with them in this crisis.

Thank you for your continued participation and dedication to sustaining this community support necessity. It feels exactly where we all should be.

Sleep well and peace,

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

Groceries for Families: Week 8 - Day 4

Groceries for Families: Week 8 - Day 5

Groceries for Families: Week 8 - Day 3