How nice to be warm! Carrying groceries in the sun, even felt hot at times. We didn’t put up the canopies for shade but certainly should have. It was a great day and busy all day long. The nice weather certainly helps bring families out. Even the last 10 minutes had a line form, which caused us to scramble to keep up.

Groceries today were brought by St. Louise, Bellevue Christian Reformed, Bellevue Presbyterian, and Highland Covenant churches. A total of 140 orders were brought and all were passed on to families, including two by delivery. We even ran out of groceries at 3:10pm, so quickly created about six extra orders on the spot from extra items, which worked out fine.

Today was the last day of the week for personal hygiene items. We were low on many things, so today added “all-purpose cleaning spray” and “hair conditioner”, just so there were more things to choose from. The cleaning spray is very popular, so was a welcome choice for families. Thanks to all who donated this week. The pantry is now empty.

Pacific Coast Fruit donated food boxes of tasty fruits and vegetables this morning. Each family received an extra box with strawberries, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and more in it. Most were things we don’t normally provide, so there would certainly be some surprised faces when the boxes were opened at home. All the remaining boxes were given to the Hispanic White Center church we’ve become connected to through the weeks. What a fun addition for today!

An email from a family we delivery to each week:

Hello, I enjoy seeing you all every week as well since it's the only time I get out due to COVID it’s nice to see others and be able to talk with other adults mental health-wise as well this has been really getting to me, to be stuck at home and not having kids in school it's been a challenge I met a few great people in line while waiting for you to open it's been a nice experience to my kids are too little to understand why we have to wait but they sure appreciate it when it comes to mealtime :) Jubilee is doing God's work in hard times you and your team are such a blessing it has been such a help during unexpected times :)

There are currently 93 families on the waiting list. We are actively looking for more grocery orders to bring them into the program. If your church is able to increase the weekly commitment or pick up a second day, it would be most welcome, so please reply. Also, if you have a referral to another church that may come into the program, that would also be a gift. We invited the wait-list families to come to get a produce box today, so we were able to see some of them in person. They are just waiting for the email saying they are in the program.

Thanks for another great day. Your partnerships are invaluable and such a blessing to this community. Keep moving through this marathon. Together we are helping out closest neighbors in real ways, mainly that they feel loved, but also with a nice meal each day. Thank you!

Enjoy the warm evening,

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

Groceries for Families: Week 10 - Day 3

Groceries for Families: Week 10 - Day 4

Groceries for Families: Week 10 - Day 2