May 27. 2021

As expected, today’s weather was all over the place, including lots of rain, wind, sun, and even some thunder. The wind causes the most havoc with the operation. Fortunately, the temperature was warm enough. It made things difficult all day, but we got through it. It helped by looking at the lovely forecast next week. Overall, we end this week on a positive note. The morning was busy with people braving the weather to drop off groceries, pantry, and hygiene items. Thank you, everyone! The afternoon was a mix of busy & slow periods. In the end, lots of food went home with families today. A very nice day.

Groceries today were provided by Lighthouse, Victory Court, First United Methodist, Overlake Park Presbyterian, Crossroads Bible, Doxa, Sacred Heart Parish & School, Highland Covenant, and Bellevue Presbyterian churches, as well as Champions Foundation, Rotary Bellevue Sunrise, and the Jubilee Friends group. A total of 231 orders came in today (thank you for the extras!) and all but 24 went out today. The remaining will go out first thing Tuesday. Thank you to everyone who donated today.

The morning crew was from Sacred Heart Parish today. It was a nice mix of returning and new volunteers. They worked hard all morning receiving the many deliveries, as well as packing about 65 food boxes with fresh produce. The food truck came at 10:45am, so we weren’t rushed like the past two days. Thank you, crew!

Today was the last day for the USDA food boxes at Jubilee. The program ends nationally on Monday. We’ve enjoyed utilizing this program since late September and have benefited from a strong relationship with Cascadia Produce. Beginning next week, we will pack bags of fresh produce and eggs puchased daily and offer frozen meat, which we have in the freezers already. It is the same operation we ran in January when there was a break in the food boxes, and it worked very well.

As you know, we’ve been icing and insulating the pallets of food boxes for about two months. It’s a practice that has since been shared with other locations by the Medosweet drivers, as they sought to also keep food cold. It was worked incredibly well, and the weather has certainly cooperated. Most mornings have remained cool and the warm temperatures have been mainly ’60-70s. We’ve not faced higher temperatures in the 80’s. In fact, we’ve watched the weather each week, wondering when such a test would come. It never happened. Amazingly, the warmer temperatures are coming next week. It feels like there has been a hedge of protection over the GFF, in regards to the weather. We’ve been very blessed.

A few stories and updates:

Sasha is a 32-year-old single man who has been in our program since last summer. We’ve not learned a lot about him over the months, but today he asked for some time to talk privately. He shared that he is in his last few quarters of school at Bellevue College to earn a degree in Cyber Security. He has chosen to live in his car for the past three years, so he can save as much money as possible. He’s very excited about graduating, getting a job, and starting his life for real. Earlier this month, his car was stolen at Bellevue College. This forced him to use a chunk of his savings to buy a 2010 Honda. He’s overcome his anger and disappointment and actually was able to count his blessings. He is at peace with it. He wasn’t asking for anything more; it seemed he just wanted to share. We offered him a gas card, but he declined. The food he has received has helped him immensely. He cannot take perishable food, because he is in his car. Any extra, he shares with his mom in Puyallup. He’s a good man, battling to finish school and start a new life. Please pray for him.

Jose is a man we’ve profiled a few times in this email. He comes on Wednesdays early in the morning, so he can get to work at a restaurant in Sammamish. We’ve given him 5 extra food boxes the past few weeks to take to his kitchen crew, which gives him a lot of joy to provide. Yesterday, we asked if he would be coming to talk with us about any help his family would need past July 1. He thought about it and said he thinks they can make it. This is a very positive sign. With seven weeks’ notice, it seems families have the time and space to assess their situation. He’s a good man. Please pray for his family.

Two families from Morocco showed up about 4pm this afternoon asking for help with food. We were able to provide them both groceries, food boxes, and milk. One family recently arrived with the wife pregnant. They are living with the other family, trying to help each other. The wife expressed how happy she is to see Bellevue so diverse. They are also finding the community to be very supportive of people like them, including Jubilee. We’ll see if they come back next week or not.

Tomorrow will be the fourth day Trenton and Daniel will be at Jubilee to talk with families about needing continued support. So far, there are about 55 families who have come. We’re expecting the pace to pick up, so tomorrow could be a busy day of conversations. We expect to wrap up such conversations by June 7, which will give an opportunity to build the framework of Phase 3 of GFF. Stay tuned. Please pray for the conversations tomorrow. We are wanting to be led through this entire process.

Thank you for another great week of ‘Groceries for Families’. Please continue to pray for these families and this operation. Thank you for your continued support in so many ways.

Have a great weekend,

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

Groceries for Families: Week 61 - Day 3

Groceries for Families: Week 62 - Day 1

Groceries for Families: Week 61 - Day 2