Week 47 of ‘Groceries for Families’ ends on a very positive note. After worrying about the impending snow a week from today, this week has had relatively easy weather. Today was a mix of rain and sun, with wind and cold temperatures whisking through at times. No complaints, though. Some of you have asked what we would have done if the snow came on Tue-Thu. It is likely we would have had to close the operation, honestly. Let’s pray we don’t face that again this year. Today, the parking lot was filled all morning with people bringing groceries, a pantry, and hygiene items. Truly, people are so happy when coming here. Thank you to everyone! Families came early and came late, with a quiet period in the middle…typical Thursday. Great day!

Groceries today were provided by Lighthouse, Victory Court, Bellevue Presbyterian, Doxa, First United Methodist, Highland Covenant, Crossroads Bible, 24-Seven, Sacred Heart Parish & School, and Overlake Park Presbyterian churches, as well as Rotary Bellevue Sunrise, Champions Foundation and the Jubilee Friends group. A total of 194 orders came in today and all went out to families today, along with 23 carried over from yesterday. Thank you to everyone who donated today.

The AM volunteers today were from Sacred Heart Parish and included a family of 7. This group worked hard all morning bringing in groceries and packing food boxes. Thank you, crew!

Some lovely bouquets of roses came in today, which volunteers divided into mini-bouquets. A mother and daughter made many beautiful arrangements, too. About 50 ladies received flowers today, which lit up many faces with smiles. Thank you for these extra gifts.

El Dios Viviente Church in West Seattle came this afternoon, as they often do on Thursdays. We’ve partnered with them since the spring to help them support about 400 families in the White Center neighborhood. Please pray for Pastor Guzman and his crew which are helping so many people there. We are blessed to be connected to them.

Doughnuts from Top Pot were brought in bulk by volunteers, as they often do weekly. Volunteers portioned these into 5 items bags, and they all went out to the market. Thank you, Mary & Kevin!

A quick story:

Some of you who have been on this email thread a long time may remember the ongoing story of young Leo who was having seizures. Erika, the mom, came regularly with updates which made it into this email. Many of you prayed for them and asked regularly for updates. Since November, we haven’t seen Erika here. She was just gone and not responding to communication. We had no idea what happened. This afternoon, she showed up…with Leo and her older son. It was like a reunion! So great to see her. She shared her own health has been very poor, where she was in the hospital much of December and is still receiving treatment. Other chaos has also plagued their family, which simply kept them away. She is feeling better, so she came back. Normally she would go on the waiting list, but we were able to add her back to the program. Leo’s health has been stable. They still go to Children’s Hospital for check-ups, but there have been no more seizures. Her story reveals to us that just because a family stops coming, doesn’t mean they don’t need help any longer. Life gets in the way. Life gets hard and overwhelming.

This note below is in the “Hall of Fame’” for this email. It was originally published on September 2 and is getting republished here so more people can read it. It captures the heart of this ‘Groceries for Families’ program. Liz works at Jubilee REACH and has served on the grocery crews from the beginning. Pure poetry…enjoy.

Hi all,

Today I was staring out my office window as I zoned out for a minute from monotonously entering donations into our database. I have a second-floor view of the Groceries for Families. I saw two women talking on the lawn and families loading cars with fresh food. I saw Ken in his neon vest balancing two boxes and a grocery bag on the way to someone’s car. I saw feet shuffling in line under the carport. I saw vehicles pulling in and out of the parking lot – coming and going from the rest of their complex, busy, beautiful, and lives.

Then it dawned on me just how incredible it is that I get to be at this intersection of real community. One person comes in the morning with their groceries. In the afternoon, it’s their neighbors, coworkers, fellow parents of BSD students who receive these groceries. But it’s not a one-way transaction.

I’ve seen our neighbors’ artwork on cards going into bags of groceries. And I’ve seen the artwork of kids who eat those groceries line our walls in the center. I’ve eaten the delicious rice pudding that afternoon families have made. And I’ve eaten one too many donuts that families have dropped off for us staff in the morning. Families on both sides of the program have shared how they loving talking with people when they come to Jubilee – they have a sense of community here.

I’m not just entering numbers into a database. I’m standing at this intersection of community. I get to connect the generosity of our community with the lives of real people around me. And I get to witness and partake in the various forms of gratitude and generosity families reciprocate. It’s a beautiful thing to have a job like this, and I’m thankful to work with you all and thankful for the joy and diligence each of you brings to the table. Keep up the good work in whatever you are doing – It matters.

With gratitude,
Liz Meyer
Investor Relations Coordinator

On Monday, we invited all 59 families on the waiting list to enter the full program. This week, 32 came and were registered. We’ll see next week if more come, which is likely.

Some of you have heard this already. When the book is written about the ‘Groceries for Families’ program one day, there certainly will be chapters on the families and about the food/diapers. However, it is clear now, nearly 1 year in, that the real stories will come from the people donating week in and week out. So many of you have shared how your lives and faith have been strengthened by giving. Your hearts have been opened and filled with love, which you pour into these families. Some of you have cried, sharing details. You have been healed. What was empty, has been filled. Where there was confusion, there is clarity. There are pure happiness and joy. It is a wonderful gift how each of us is transformed, the more we serve others…no strings attached, no expectations, nothing in return. Thank you, all of you.

Have a great weekend,

Ken Carpenter
Director- Community Care, Jubilee REACH
On behalf of the Jubilee family

Groceries for Families: Week 47 - Day 3

Groceries for Families: Week 48 - Day 1

Groceries for Families: Week 47 - Day 2