Groceries for Families: Week 22 - Day 2
Tuesdays (& Fridays) are super busy, so are really popular with the crew. Today was no exception. Lots going on over here. The morning has deliveries streaming in from as early as 8am. Quite a few came by Safeway and InstaCart. The afternoon was a constant flow of families, many of which are larger in size so get two orders. A lot of food flowed out of this place today. The weather was exceptionally cooperative, with the morning being cloudy & cool and the sun finally coming out in the afternoon. Such a nice day all around.
Creekside Covenant Delivery
Jubilee Friends Delivery
Groceries today came from Creekside Covenant, Bellevue Presbyterian, Westminster Chapel, Cornerstone, and Crossroads Bible churches, as well as the Jubilee Friends group. A total of 163 orders came in and all went out to families today, as well as 4 additional food boxes. The last family actually came at 5pm tonight. Thank you to everyone who donated today!
Food boxes were delivered at 7:00am this morning and kept cold in the truck until volunteers arrived at 7:45am to sort them.
El Dios Viviente Church took three pallets of them to their community in White Center, Seattle.
The perishables of the other two pallets were unpacked to the refrigerator. Some went out today but most will go out to families tomorrow for overflow needs.
Food Box Delivery
Today’s Market
Exit Line
Both the market and exit line tables were full of food today.
Donations from the QFC Crossroads and Lake Samm Foursquare food bank came in with a nice variety of items.
Bakery goods, loaves of bread, fresh fruit, vegetables, canned goods, books, light bulbs, feminine hygiene, dairy, and more were all available.
Thank you to everyone who gives extra to make this happen!
A few stories from Ken:
One of the family members brought the crew a very tasty Mexican lunch of beans and chicken with tortillas today. She has brought food before, and we are always excited to enjoy her authentic cuisine. She simply wants to say thank you to everyone and using food is the best way she knows how. Her son Miguel is often with her, as she uses a walker. Today, a caregiver was escorting her. She is a very sweet lady. Although you all can’t enjoy the lunch, please accept her thanks passed to you. You are helping her and her family.
A woman showed up at the door at 4pm today, asking if it was still possible to get groceries. I know her by face, not name, and know she normally comes Mon/Thu. I asked a few questions to clarify why she is coming on the wrong day. She very quietly shared that life is very complicated right now for their family. She has nine children (wow!), so has appointments every day at various times. She can’t get to Jubilee sometimes on her normal day. Because she also missed late last week, she didn’t get diapers. I could feel the desperation in her voice as she kindly asked for extra things. We packed her a full order of groceries and gave her the extra diapers/wipes. As I watched her drive away, I wondered what life is like for her…really. It must be very hard. She’s in her 30’s. Why does she have so many children? Maybe it is a blended family. I don’t know much, but my heart worries for her with so much burden being carried. I’ll look to talk with her again later this week. Please join me in praying for her and their family.
Today’s Lunch!
Day 128 was a good one. There are so many good things happening here. Much of it is because a relationship now exists with these families. There is definitely community which has broken out on each day. We hope people feel welcomed, expected, wanted, that they belong and are deeply cared for with love. Alleigha (who runs the I-pad outside most days) shared today that when she came back from being gone for a week, families told her how much they missed her and wondered why she didn’t say goodbye to them. Love that. Feels good. Thanks so much for making that sort of relationship possible.
Today’s PM Crew
Have a great evening, wherever this entry finds you.
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH
On behalf of the Jubilee family
