Groceries for Families: Week 62 - Day 3
June 3, 2021
We finish week 62 of ‘Groceries for Families’ on a good note, with a smooth operation and cooler weather. Today had all the sun of the past two days, without the intense heat, especially under the canopies. It was a lovely day of weather. The morning was calm with many happy people dropping off groceries, pantry, and hygiene items. Thank you, everyone. Families kept a slow but steady pace all afternoon, with the last 45 minutes being the busiest. Lots of food & other items went home with people today. Love that!
Highland Covenant Delivery
Jubilee Friends Delivery
Groceries today were provided by Sacred Heart Parish & School, Overlake Park Presbyterian, Highland Covenant, Crossroads Bible, Bellevue Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Victory Court, Doxa and Lighthouse churches, as well as Champions Foundation, Rotary Bellevue Sunrise, and the Jubilee Friends group. A total of 173 orders came in today and all went out to families. Thank you to everyone who donated.
Today’s AM Crew
The morning volunteers were from Overlake Park Presbyterian Church today, with a mix of returning and new people. They worked hard all morning to receive all the incoming deliveries and pack 60 bags of food to get the afternoon started. Thank you, crew.
Lily returned this morning to take two boxes of sandwiches to the homeless in downtown Seattle. She sent back some pictures and some of her notes from the day. She’s a busy lady as a single mom with two kids. She works part-time at an Issaquah restaurant and is a full-time student with an online program in Mexico. She has class twice daily. She wants and needs to work more, but there is a lot to juggle, especially with kids home so much with online school. She has such a good heart for helping others and has made the downtown trips her mission.
Jakeh
A picture of Jakeh is attached, who is a Jubilee REACH Site Coach at Big Picture School. He’s been a major part of the GFF since the beginning and often leads us with his beautiful prayers on Thursdays.
After four years at Jubilee, he is moving back to Montana to get married. His last day will be in a couple weeks, and we are all going to miss him. He’s a good man and made a difference in the countless lives of students.
Now comes a new and exciting chapter in life. Please send him off with your prayers.
A few updates and stories:
Shahin was at Jubilee today and stopped in to chat a bit. She is busy designing the headstone for her husband’s gravesite. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone since February 27. It was June 6 of last year that we first learned his brain cancer had returned. She showed us some artwork her daughter is drawing; she’s quite talented. Please continue to pray for them, as they enter summer without their husband/father.
Lunch came from two different Maria’s today. One brought peppers stuffed with Italian sausage. The other group a Mexican beef & potato soup. Maria #2 had knee surgery a month ago and drove herself today for the first time. She is in physical therapy and slowly healing.
A note from a family, summarized by Daniel: “At first, it was hard to come to Jubilee because I was very shy. I wasn't sure I wanted to receive help. My neighbors who came to Jubilee encouraged me to come. We used to clean restaurants, but when everything shut down that all went away. When my husband stopped working, we did not miss a meal because we had food because of Jubilee. Thank you.”
A note from a family, summarized by Daniel: “For our family, the help from Jubilee has been the biggest help we have gotten during the pandemic. Everything we receive is one less cost that we don't have to make. I'm not working, so the money we have it's limited. The money my husband makes is able to pay for our housing, so having this food means we don't worry if we're going to have enough. Thank you.”
Last week, this email profiled a woman who is starting a full-time nanny position, so her family won’t need help from the GFF program any longer. Yesterday, she showed up after the operation was complete simply to turn in her GFF identification card (which is not required). Although the card was very tattered, she wanted her number to go to another family. She expressed her gratitude for all the support, which allowed her family to get back to a place where they can support themselves again. She is very happy.
Tomorrow and Monday will be the last two days Trenton and Daniel will be at Jubilee to talk with families who may need support past July 1. Please pray for their conversations. It is very clear families have been going through a process of discernment the past month, which is wonderful. Next week, we expect to be able to map out the operational framework and needed level of support for Phase 3. It will be rolled out to all partners by the end of the week. Thank you for your prayers and patience. Stay tuned.
Today’s PM Crew
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
