GROCERIES FOR FAMILIES

Supporting families affected by the pandemic with food, hygiene items, and other necessities

Jubilee REACH Communications 10/1/20 Jubilee REACH Communications 10/1/20

Groceries for Families: Week 28 - Day 2

Day 2 of this V2 went as well as the first. The new logistics are working…we just have to have more experience to make it easier and faster. Lots of shoppers came from 10 different groups. The morning was full of happy (masked) faces dropping off bags. The joy and fun are quite obvious to the crew; it’s wonderful to see! Families came early today. By noon there were already 40 people waiting, many of them talking around the grass area. It is clear there is a community that has been created here, which they are enjoying. By 1:00pm when we opened, the line was at least 90 deep. Wow! Overall, it was a great day.

September 30th, 2020

Groceries today were provided by Calvary Chapel Eastside, Victory Court, Newport Covenant, St. Louise, Crossroads Bible, Bellevue Presbyterian, 24- Seven and Bellevue Christian Reformed churches, as well as the Rotary Club of Bellevue, the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary and the Jubilee Friends group. A total of 174 orders came in and all went out to families today, including 6 by delivery. Thank you to all who helped today!

Lots of pantry items came in today, too. Thank you to everyone who gives to these extra items. If you want to be on the weekly distribution list for pantry items, just reply back. The inventory for baby wipes is fine for tomorrow now. Thank you for the quick response this week to help there.

We picked up fresh items at Cash & Carry early this morning. Costco delivered more about 8:30am. This part of the new process is working very well.

The market tables were full today. For the first time since August, we put out mainly non-perishable items. They had been accumulating but the supply of fresh items has been so strong, there just hasn’t been space for the non-perishables. Today was the day. Lots of canned goods, boxed goods, pasta, soup, coffee, socks and more filled the tables all afternoon. Thank you to everyone who gives these extra items. Some fresh items were brought by volunteers from the QFC Crossroads, too. Thank you!

Ed took the box truck to Farmer Frog in Woodinville at 9:30am to get food boxes today. It was so congested there, he didn’t return until 12:45pm.

Not fun. The crew very quickly unloaded 150 food boxes. Fortunately, we didn’t pick up milk today because an extra pallet of milk (200 gallons) was brought yesterday accidently (In fact, we had so much extra milk there was insufficient refrigeration here.

We took 84 gallons to Bellevue Christian Reformed Church overnight. Thank you, BCRC! We also let families know milk was available after 4pm and another 80 gallons went out.)

The crew very quickly started filling boxes, so we only opened about 10 minutes late. We’ve never cut it that close before! We’re working on a better plan, so that won’t happen again. For sure, Farmer Frog will get faster, too.

A picture of the food box is attached. It comes with 5# potatoes, yellow onions, 3# apples, 32 oz. Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt, a block of cheddar cheese, cubed cooked chicken breast, chicken meatballs. We add to it lettuce, tomatoes, bananas, cucumber, green pepper, and eggs – all purchased at Costco and Cash & Carry.

The food truck is tomorrow night, 4-7pm. The Ultimate Melt is a new food truck for us. Come check it out.

For those of you who have been on this email for months may remember us saying good by to two dear ladies, Hilda and Maria back in July. Their families were stable enough to support themselves. We love these ladies so it was mixed emotions to have them leave. Well, they both returned this week to the program. Their families are struggling again, and the support from the Groceries for Families program is what fills the gap. While it is great to see them again, it is also discouraging that families who were making it in July and no longer now.

Thanks for another great day. Tomorrow we roll into October, which is hard to believe. Thank you for all you’re doing!

Have a great evening,

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

Jubilee REACH Communications 9/29/20 Jubilee REACH Communications 9/29/20

Groceries for Families: Week 28 - Day 1

It felt so great to be back! The flow of the day around here when shoppers and families come is very inspiring. It has been missed. Today was a wonderful day to come back to. Lots of shoppers flowed in all morning, especially early. By 9:30am there were already 50 bags here. That’s a lot! Tuesday is a very busy day in general and today was no exception. The line at 1:00pm stretched past the basketball court and looped around again. It must have had 75 people in it. Thank goodness the weather was just perfect. Everyone was in a good mood and patient.

Groceries today came from Bellevue Christian Reformed, Bellevue Presbyterian, Crossroads Bible, Cornerstone, Creekside Covenant, Westminster Chapel, Evangelical Chinese and Covenant Presbyterian churches, as well as the Jubilee Friends group. A total of 143 orders came in, which was quite a bit lower than expected. Fortunately about 25 orders carried over from last week. At the end of the day every single order was needed, and the crew was able to create about 5 more out of extra groceries. Somehow numbers just seem to work out around here. Thank you to everyone who participated today!

The center tables of the exit line (the new market area) were very full will all sorts of fruit, vegetables, bakery, and dairy goods.

Volunteers delivered from QFC Crossroads and Safeway Thrashers Corner, which gave a nice variety.

We had extra milk and corn from Farmer Frog, which is both popular. Thank you to everyone who gave extras for today.

With families only coming once per week now, it is great to give them more food

Fresh vegetables came in from the King County Demonstration Garden and a few home gardens. People love fresh vegetables! Thank you.

The food truck this week will be Thursday from 4pm-7pm. It is a new one, Ultimate Melt. Look up their menu – it is unbelievable what they do to a grilled cheese sandwich. They will also be back next week, which is the last week for the food truck.

A few more details about V2…continuing what was sent last night.

Perishables food this week is coming from the USDA through Farmer Frog in Woodinville. Ed took the thrift store truck to the farm at 9:30am this morning to get 6 pallets. It was unloaded at Jubilee into what used to be the market area. We’ve added another carport, so the entire area is covered from the sun and rain. (We’re actually trying to add gutters to make it very dry.)

To add nutritional variety to each box, we purchased food from Costco Business and Cash & Carry today (eggs, tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, and bananas). We want to add lettuce, but the fires in California have caused the lettuce prices to skyrocket, so we didn’t buy much this week.

The crew opened each box and added all the extra items. This started before families arrive and continued all afternoon. Families were first given the bag of non-perishables provided by shoppers and another bag with diapers/hygiene items. They were then asked to come back to take a food box and a gallon of milk. It worked!

This new process looks to be V2 and worked very well today. Both the crew and the families had to learn it, so it will get even better in the coming weeks. We were all pleased with it, despite being very busy for many hours and quite sweaty at the end of the shift.

A quick shout out to the volunteers who worked yesterday and today, including those who answered the call for reinforcements today. It cannot be overstated how much volunteers do to make this entire program run smoothly. There are many things which need to get done each day. Without volunteers, it would be impossible. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Here are the current number of families in the program. This does not include people who registered today, and there were some.

Tuesday: 192
Wednesday: 192
Thursday: 177
Total: 561

Thank you for continuing your support of these dear members of our community. Walking one lady to her car today with groceries, I asked her how things were for her family. She was silent for a moment, and then simply replied “it’s hard”. Then she said there are some signs it is slowly getting better, so she is hopeful. It is people like her you are helping. Life is hard right now for these families…really hard. Keep going; it is working.

Enjoy this extra week of summer, as best you can.

Peace,

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

Jubilee REACH Communications 9/24/20 Jubilee REACH Communications 9/24/20

Groceries for Families: Week 27 - Day 3

Happy Thursday! On this windy and rainy day, we finished up serving families during Week 4 of Groceries for Families. Our team worked hard and fast this morning, not only to prepare for the afternoon but also to stay warm. Sadly, in the hustle and bustle, I forgot to take pictures during the AM shift, my deepest apologies. While there were no pictures, know I am fully enjoying the images of some of our coaches drenched from the rain. All joking aside, it is amazing to know we have a team who steps up to serve regardless if it is sunny or rainy.

Happy Thursday! On this windy and rainy day, we finished up serving families during Week 27 of Groceries for Families. Our team worked hard and fast this morning, not only to prepare for the afternoon but also to stay warm. Sadly, in the hustle and bustle, I forgot to take pictures during the AM shift, my deepest apologies. While there were no pictures, know I am fully enjoying the images of some of our coaches drenched from the rain. All joking aside, it is amazing to know we have a team who steps up to serve regardless if it is sunny or rainy.

Also, yesterday I sent a follow-up email with the volunteer link. Many of you kindly told me that all the slots were filled. One, praise the Lord! I am so grateful that people are able to come alongside our team to help serve the Bellevue community. Two, I believe some of October was open and we hope to add more slots next week upon Ken’s return. We are excited to bring more people in as we show love and service to those in need.

Now, today we received donations from Lighthouse Church, Bellevue Presbyterian, Crossroads Bible, Highland Covenant, Sacred Heart School and Church, OPPC, FUMC, Doxa, and Jubilee Friends. We appreciate all your donations! Along with the bags being dropped off, we also received a food donation from QFC and picked up some watermelon and corn from Farmer Frog. Thank you to Ed who was willing to go to Farmer Frog as well as other stores to pick up all the food we needed for the families today! I know it is very appreciated by the families.

Before the afternoon started our team moved the tents over to a new location (see picture to the left) so the families waiting would be dry. Of course, after we did that the good Lord’s sense of humor made the rain stopped while we served families. It was a gift that we aren’t expecting, but it was one that made today better. The line this afternoon went smoothly, and families excitedly took their food and headed home.

As we prepare for next week, I want to leave a few more things with you all. Today, we realized we are still in need of many Laundry Pods if we want to meet the amount we need to serve the families this upcoming Tuesday-Thursday. If you or people you know would be willing to drop some off, it would be a great help. Along with that, Ken comes back next week! Please join me in welcoming him back next week as you see him during drop off or hear from his emails. Thirdly, please continue to pray for our team. Like many of you, we are all adjusting to what normal life looks like. Many of us are tired, confused, frustrated, and wanting answers on when things may get back to what we were used to. While we don’t have a timeline of when or if that will happen, we ask for you to pray for us to continue with boldness, caring hearts, and an openness to what God has for us in this season.

All right friends, crazily enough this will be my final time signing off on the newsletter. It has been such a blessing to me to get to know you all a bit more. I loved hearing your responses to my newsletter, your stories of how you are getting involved with us and seeing familiar faces of people I would never have met if I wasn’t covering for Ken. Thank you again, and it’s been a huge pleasure.

Blessings to you,

Your Jubilee Family- Erika Dull, Jubilee REACH Managing Site Coach

Jubilee REACH Communications 9/23/20 Jubilee REACH Communications 9/23/20

Groceries for Families: Week 27 - Day 2

Today was a great day, but oh so rainy. As I pulled up to the Jubilee center it felt very much like a classic Seattle Fall day. Two volunteers came this morning and helped our team get prepared by organizing and assembling diaper packs. It is amazing how much behind the scenes work our volunteers do every single day to ensure Groceries for Families is successful. Thank you to all those who have volunteered during a shift

Throughout the morning bags were delivered at a consistent rate. Deliveries were made from members of Bellevue Christian Reform, 24-Seven, Bellevue Presbyterian, Crossroads Bible, St. Louise, Newport Covenant, Bellevue Breakfast Rotary, Rotary Club of Bellevue, Newport Covenant, Calvary Chapel Eastside, Westminster, and Jubilee Friends!

All your bags are helping feed families so thank you for taking the time to come this morning to deliver them. I also wanted to give a huge shout out to our Jubilee Friends group today.

Most of the Jubilee Friends bags came from one lady who heard about Groceries for Families and was moved to help in some way. She reached out to friends to help raise funds to provide multiple bags, shopped for all the items, and then delivered them. As we chatted, I could see the joy on her face of giving. It was a beautiful reminder that good things, like Groceries for families, is still happening because God’s people are acting.

Along with bags being delivered, we received some watermelon from Farmer Frog which will be put in the market tomorrow. Our PM crew worked hard helping families take bags to their car, prepare more bags, and just be a friendly face to the community. All their hard work was seen, as many joyful families went way with food. Thank you, Jubilee REACH team, for all you do!

As scheduled, we have a food truck arriving this evening. Each family received a voucher to enjoy some warm food tonight! If you are available or willing to embrace some rain, come over to the center and join us!

Well friends, that is all I have for you today. It was a wonderful, and semi chilly, day at Groceries for Families.

As I write this I am sitting in Ken’s office, listening to the rain, and watching our team serve families. Observing this makes my heart very full. Knowing that I won’t be seeing all the behind the scenes work once Ken returns is bitter-sweet.

I am excited to get to spend more time with my students at the Sammamish High School but also will miss daily interactions with the amazing people that make Groceries for Families possible.

Thank you again for allowing me to be the voice who shares this program with you.

Excited to write one more day! Have a warm and blessed evening.

Sincerely,

Your Jubilee Family- Erika Dull, Jubilee REACH Managing Site Coach

Jubilee REACH Communications 9/22/20 Jubilee REACH Communications 9/22/20

Groceries for Families: Week 27 - Day 1

Happy Tuesday! On Friday many volunteers came in the morning and afternoon to help us reset our center to prepare for two different churches to worship on Saturday and Sunday. It was a very busy day of moving, cleaning, and organizing, but the center looked amazing by the time everything was completed. It brought me joy as we allowed followers to gather for the first time since March in our space. What a gift for people to gather again to worship!

Along with preparing our center for the church, our team received an update about the V2 USDA boxes. Unfortunately, the news we received wasn’t what we were hoping for, but our amazing team gathered together to find solutions for moving forward. Therefore, instead of having a truck parked outside to provide boxes this week, we built additional bags for families inside the center. These bags provided produce, dairy, and meat to help balance the bags that donors delivered. After this week, we are hopeful that USDA boxes will be provided from a different partnership than what we originally had in mind.

Now, while things are still up in the air, both our AM and PM crew did a wonderful job serving our community. In the morning as coaches pulled the bags in, we enjoyed the refreshing feeling of fresh rain as we worked. Bags were donated by Bellevue Christian Reform, Bellevue Presbyterian, Crossroads Bible, Cornerstone, Creekside Covenant, Westminster, Covenant Presbyterian, Evangelical Chinese, Jubilee Friends, Bellevue Sunrise Rotary, and Victory Court. Thank you again for your donations!

Aside from our weekly donation bags being dropped off, many donors on Friday and today dropped off extra items. Thank you for your donations! For those who are wondering what additional items we need, please see the list below:

Laundry detergent pods
Feminine Hygiene items (pads and tampons)
Large bins of cat litter
Baby wipes

After items were dropped off, our team continued preparing for the afternoon. The sun came out and our line of families was long all afternoon long. Families received the two bags as well as items in the market. Overall, I would say that it was a great day! As the day comes to an end, the sun is still shinning, and families are fed. You all are the ones who make this possible, so thank you again!

As I wrap up this evening and write this newsletter, all I can do is smile. It truly has been an honor writing these newsletter posts and I look forward to writing a few more times before Ken comes back.

On behalf of the Jubilee family, thank you for reading and have a blessed evening!

Erika Dull
Jubilee REACH Managing Site Coach

Jubilee REACH Communications 9/17/20 Jubilee REACH Communications 9/17/20

Groceries for Families: Week 26 - Day 3

Somehow it is already Thursday, and another week of Groceries for Families 1.5 is coming to an end. Before we jump into today’s activities, I wanted to give an extra shout out to St. Louise Church for donating yesterday! I accidently forgot to add their name in the list of donating churches but wanted to ensure recognition to all their returning and new donors! We so appreciated you all dropping off bags yesterday morning!

For today, before I explain the details of the day, I want to continue the shout out list!

This morning, after realizing we were going to need extra produce for the boxes, not only did our Jubilee Reach team step up, but we had some amazing volunteers fill a need to make today successful.

Therefore, I want to say a huge thank you to our grocery shopping volunteers, specifically Irene (see picture to the right) who willingly grabbed extra produce when we asked last minute; a thank you to

Ed Park for picking up pallets from Farmer Frog and delivering extra boxes to Pastor Geraldo in West Seattle; and finally a huge thank you to Alleigha, another site coach, who has stepped up to support the PM crew while Ken is on vacation.

Every day, but especially today, these people made Groceries for Families possible.

Now, this morning we received groceries from Lighthouse Church, BelPres, Crossroads Bible, Highland Covenant, Sacred Heart Presbyterian, Sacred Heart School, OPPC, FUMC, Doxa, Jubilee Friends, and Bellevue Sunrise Rotary.

Thank you to everyone for donating bags today! We also received some fresh greens from local farmers that was set out in the market this afternoon.

The morning seemed to fly by, and everyone was quick to get boxes ready for the PM crew to complete.

As noon rolled around, all coaches were working together today to prep for food distribution.

Families arrived early but patiently waited for us to officially open our doors. Once doors opened, we got the line moving quickly as boxes and bags were passed out.

Our register line was also quite busy today. We added 15 more families to the program which means this week alone 57 new families were registered.

What is amazing is that we are also having more people sign up to donate in order to provide for these families. Praise God!

Beginning next week, we will officially begin Groceries for Families 2.0. It’s very exciting to continue providing the need and begin shifting our processes to a more simplified version. We will still be setting up a market and will provide extra pantry items for families. As we look into how to best prepare for the next weeks to come, my final ask is for donors to possibly bring an additional item or two for the pantry. These needed items are listed below:

Quart size zip lock freezer bags
Laundry pods
Baby wipes
Bulk Rice (25 lbs bags and up)
Feminine Hygiene (pads and tampons)

As today winds down I have one more thought- well more of a prayer. For me, prayer is essential for Groceries for Families to run and it has been so cool (couldn’t think of a better word) to see prayers answered daily. Therefore, I wanted to invite you all into my prayer I have tonight. If you would like to, please pray this with me:

“Father God,

Thank you for who you are as our savior, our provider, and our comforter. Thank you for allowing us to be your hands and feet and serve the Bellevue community. As we finish up this week, may you bless the families that received groceries, bless the donors who provided the food items, and bless the volunteers and staff that made Groceries for Families run this week. Please continue to be our strength as we remain serving and loving those in need. Lord, may we continue to be prayerful about our world today. In these times of grief, hardship, and unknown futures, may we be people that seek you first. You are a good God who is life and light. May we continue to shine your light in this world.

In your name,

Amen”

Have a wonderfully blessed evening! Thank you for all your support this week. I look forward to writing a new entry next Tuesday!

Blessings,

Erika Dull
Jubilee REACH Managing Site Coach

Groceries for Families began in March 2020 to serve families financially affected by the pandemic. Over 25 organizations and churches have partnered with Jubilee REACH to provide families with groceries, hygiene items, and supplies.

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