Groceries for Families: Week 45 - Day 1
February 2, 2021
Here we are at the beginning of week 45 of ‘Groceries for Families’ and the start of February. Both seem very hard to believe. Wow, time sure flies. The forecasted rain today was spot on, with rain persisting all day long. It was very steady in the morning, returned in force right at 1pm as we opened for families, and then dumped very heavy during the cleanup time around 4pm. Lots of people got wet here today. Yet, it didn’t dampen spirits. Happy shoppers came into the parking lot all morning long dropping off groceries, pantry items, and hygiene items. Thank you, everyone! Families braved the rain and kept a steady line all afternoon. Numbers were only slightly down from a normal busy Tuesday. For sure, there are some people who avoid extreme weather days like today. Overall, it was a very typical, great day!
Cornerstone Delivery
Jubilee Friends Delivery
Groceries today were provided by Westminster Chapel, Awakening, Covenant Presbyterian, Crossroads Bible, Bellevue Presbyterian, Bellevue Christian Reformed, Creekside Covenant, East Shore Unitarian, and Cornerstone Fellowship churches, as well as Bellevue Kiwanis and the Jubilee Friends group. A total of 203 orders were delivered and all went out to families today, along with 14 carried over from last week. Thank you to everyone who donated today.
Today’s AM Crew
Volunteers brought food from the Safeway Thrasher’s Corner. Other volunteers brought food from Trader Joe’s Overlake. Other volunteers brought food from Crossroads QFC. The beginning of the week always starts nicely with a solid supply of extra grocery store items that help fill the market. Thank you, volunteers, for your dedication and efforts. It makes such a huge difference!
We purchase fresh produce at Smart Foodservice early this morning. Eggs from Costco were delivered. Food boxes arrived at about 8:30am. The AM Crew from Crossroads Bible Church did a great job handling everything coming in and packing food boxes. Thank you, crew!
Sr Lunches Delivery
Lunch was delivered to 31 senior citizens in the community today by Barb and her crew. This includes 3 new homes added this week. This outreach has been running since last spring and is very popular. Barb and her crew put a ton of love and extra goodies into each lunch. Please pray for these seniors, as most remain very isolated.
Straw Delivery
The heavy rain and run-off quickly saturate the lawn near where the line forms for families.
Since the fall, we’ve kept a thick layer of straw down under the canopies to keep feet dry.
One donor has been supplying this straw from the Issaquah Grange and delivered another 3 bales today to freshen it. Volunteers will spread it all tomorrow. Thank you, C and L!
A few flower bouquets were delivered from the QFC Crossroads today. Some were too far gone but about 10 of them were very nice flowers. With so few, we decided to choose carefully who would receive them. Anytime a child came through, we brought them to the supply and allowed them to choose one for their mother or grandmother with them. These are kids under 6 years old, so they are quite shy about it. We asked them to present it to their mother/grandmother with a hug and ‘I love you.’ At least two ladies were moved to instant tears by the simple gesture.
It shows how much strain and pressure these people carry daily, with very little in the way of extras or gifts. Flowers are always special to receive but seem to be extra special these days. If you ever see flowers on clearance at the grocery store, feel free to bring them to Jubilee. You’ll make someone’s day.
Typical Order
A picture of a typical order is to the right in a QFC shopping cart. A family receives 1 bag of nonperishables, as provided by shoppers each morning. They receive one food box, which has had extra fruit & vegetables, plus eggs, added. They receive one gallon of milk (+1 extra if we have it). They also receive a slip of paper upon check-in which allows them to circle various pantry items (paper towels, diapers, wipes, pet items, beans, rice, laundry pods). These items fill another plastic shopping bag. Additionally, if they bring a container(s), it can be filled with cooking oil and dish soap. Families with 7 or more people receive 2 nonperishable bags, 2 food boxes, and 2 gallons of milk.
We begin this week with about 730 families in the ‘Groceries for Families’ program and another 35 on the waiting list. We’re continuing to add families to the waiting list daily. Being on the waiting list means they can come for food once per week on Tue, Wed or Thu at 3:15pm. They receive a food box, milk and a trip through the market area. We expect to invite the waiting list families in to the program later this month, depending on capacity.
Today’s PM Crew
Thank you for your continued support of this program. Together, around 3500 members of our community are receiving direct support during this very difficult time. We hope to see the restaurant and hospitality industries return, which will give employment back to many of these people. Please continue to pray for them. Pray for their mental health. Many have children in the school district, so pray for them as kids start to go back. Life is just harder right now. It’s so good to know food insecurity is not a stress for these families, which allows them to deal with other things better. Thank you!
Stay warm, wherever you are this evening.
Ken Carpenter
Director- Community Care, Jubilee REACH
On behalf of the Jubilee family
