Week 16 (day 91) started with a smooth day and lovely weather. It’s hard to be 71 and sunny, with a slight breeze. (IMO) 😊 Mondays are always unique with 8 different groups delivering groceries, primarily one by one. There are lots and lots of people coming in all morning long, which is really fun to see. Families started lining up early and were a steady flow for at least the first hour.

Groceries today came courtesy of 24-Seven, Bellevue Christian Reformed, Sacred Heart, Lighthouse, Common Good, Rain City, and Bellevue Presbyterian churches, as well as the Jubilee Friends group. A total of 155 orders came in and all went out to families today, including 26 by delivery. It was such a great day. Thank you to everyone who participated today.

The hygiene pantry was available today for families to choose three items. Along with the normal items, we add liquid hand soap and dishwasher pods today. Thanks to everyone who helped fill the pantry since last week.

Fresh produce came early this morning from one of the gardeners at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Freshly picked produce smells so good!

It smelled like the earth. Lovely lettuce, kale, radishes, chard, and herbs (rosemary, mint, sage, thyme, chives).

The pick was fresh garlic which makes the grocery store garlic seem like cardboard.

Wow! Thank you. It went to families today, including the Jewish family who only eats vegetables.

They got a freshly picked bag today. Wow!

Lots of hygiene items and diapers came in this morning. Thank you to everyone who donated!

We didn’t do a market today, as there weren’t enough items to fill it. Instead, we filled the smaller tables which line the exit, so people could grab produce and fruit on the way out. It’s a good substitute. Feminine hygiene is available right at the front table when the market isn’t open.

A personal note from Ken:

Last Friday, July 3, one of the stories on this daily summary was an email from a man named Roger. It was such a great note to receive and really lifted our spirits. Like him, I look forward to Mon & Thu so I can chat with him. He’s a very nice man and just nice to talk with. Today he came late in the afternoon when very few people were here. I was able to talk with him for a good 10 minutes. Knowing what he wrote on Friday (“The cheerful environment they provide in that 15 minutes each time sure helps to brighten the situation we are in with the pandemic. I know my boys look forward to the food I bring back, but I look forward to the conversations. Just to be out and about.”), it was great to pour more into his life by connecting together. He filled me up, too. We’ve become friends through this. A picture of me talking to Roger is below, which Daniel took.

We begin this new week with about 603 families in the program. Thank you for all you are doing to sustain this program, which is helping so many people in this community. It is working!

Wherever you are today, may you have a lovely evening with people you love.

Blessings to you all,

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

Groceries for Families: Week 16 - Day 1

Groceries for Families: Week 16 - Day 2

Groceries for Families: Week 15 - Day 6