Groceries for Families: Week 9 - Day 3
(Just a reminder of the blog which holds all the history of these email summaries: www.jubileereach.org/blog. Please put this out to anyone serving in this Groceries for Families program, so they can get the current updates.)
The forecast today had rain coming at 4pm, which proved to be true. This meant we all were dry and comfortable today in the overcast gray. It’s raining now. The operation today was smooth and full of good energy.
Groceries today came from Highland Covenant, Bellevue Christian Reformed, St. Louise Parish, and Bellevue Presbyterian churches. A total of 151 orders were delivered and all went out to families, including four by delivery. Thanks for the on-time deliveries and smooth hand-off all morning long.
Highland Covenant Church Delivery
NCL and NLYM Delivery
Casey with Awakening Church showed up this morning with a car-full of food donations from Union Gospel Mission. Wow, what fun stuff! There are cases of yummy pesto, which was very popular in the market. There were many boxes of shredded potatoes and chopped onions/peppers, which were also very popular. It made for a very fun day in the market, with families getting things normally not offered. Thank you!
One item available any day is cooking oil (canola or vegetable). There is a sign on the table where groceries are passed out, which tells people to bring their own container if they’d like oil. It’s become more and more popular, with now about a third of the families taking it. Last week, someone donated six large containers of olive oil. So, this week families were given a choice and about half chose olive oil. It was a simple, yet fun change in the daily routine. It is all gone now.
Laundry detergent went out for the third day, so all the families were offered it. We gave away 330 bags of 20 pods each and about 75 liquid bottles.
This is the most we’ve given in the three times detergent has been available. Thank you to all who donated! We hope to provide it again in two weeks.
Today was the last day this week for personal hygiene items. The shelves behind me are quite bare, which is a good thing after three days of passing it all out to families. Thank you to all who donate to this part of the program. Tomorrow starts bulk ingredients, which are all ready to go in bins.
Bulk Items
A quick personal story from Ken:
You’ll remember the story of the Grandma who cried when she was given Mother’s Day gifts two weeks ago. Then there was the follow-up story a week ago where she sought me out to explain why she was so emotional. Today she came to me again, all smiles, to tell me her grandchildren came with her. The teenager was in line with her and the other was in the car. After she went through the line, she brought both over to me to meet them. She was a very proud Grandma showing off her two grandchildren. So very sweet. We are friends now.
A recent email from Judy Buckmaster, Bellevue School District, Executive Director of Community Development:
It is Friday and I am seated at my desk at home where I have been working since March. I have an office set-up so that I am seated next to a window that allows the sun to shine in and I can hear the voices of my 4 and 7-year-old neighbors in their backyard. The children are bi-lingual Japanese and English speakers and when they are not at a lesson, they are outside expending tremendous energy. Their joy for life is palpable. When I take breaks to throw the ball for my black lab, they always stop to chat and that is when I help the youngest to practice English while he tries to teach me some Japanese —not easy for me to remember a lot at this point! The joy of children is such a blessing!
Many times as I am working, I get a new email from Ken or Ashley and I always take the time to read their updates. I love reading about the daily parade of groceries and looking at the pictures that bring it all to life. I know that many of you are supporting this effort as well as staying in touch with your students. I also know that if you are not at the center supporting the grocery effort, it is for good reasons of protecting your health or the health of your loved ones.
On this sunny morning in May, I wanted to take a few minutes to let you know that I think of you daily, that I am overwhelmed by the generosity of spirit that is exemplified at Jubilee REACH, and that I am so thankful to live in a community that steps-up to take care of their neighbor.
From me personally and also on behalf of the Bellevue School District, my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for all you do and who you choose to be during this most challenging time!
With great respect and admiration,
Judy
This program continues to roll along in such a positive way and is an absolute blast to be a part of. It is energy giving! Thank you for all your support and prayers.
Have a great evening,
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH
On behalf of the Jubilee family
