100 Bags of Food

Our church has a pantry for emergencies, but the staff has been overwhelmed with the needs of the community.  Unfortunately, the staff can no longer keep up with the demand.  The church was getting almost 100 people per week picking up these bags.  Unfortunately, some people started coming in the three days a week it was offered (hence it is not an emergency, but a habit).  The church started keeping track and only allowing 2 times a month pick up, then one time a month.  Some of the people coming in were complaining about the food, rude to the staff, and some were taking the food and selling to other people!  At one point, we ran out of food completely.  It was time to re-evaluate the program.

My church provides the kitchen for Fallon Daily Bread:  other organizations come cook and the needy are feed meals 3 nights a week.  They feed about 120 at each meal.  Our church also cooks once a month, and other organizations and churches come in and cook:  It is a great community effort.

Because there is a regular food bank and several other pantries, our church has decided to get out of the food distribution part.

For the last three weeks, a friend and I have been going on Wednesdays to prepare 100 bags of food for the needy.  The way it will be distributed is unique.  The bags will be placed in the pews on Sunday.  If you sit where there is a bag you can take the food home for yourself if you need it, or take the bag of food to a neighbor or someone you know needs the food.

Any food we have left over will go to Fallon Daily Bread to prepare the meals.  By the way, the community dinners were almost stopped.  There was not enough food to keep it going, but with some news coverage article in the local paper and some local television publicity, the donations came in and the program is running strong.  Nevada is a very generous community!

http://www.mynews4.com/news/local/story/Fallon-Daily-Bread-Feeding/z8OOQ_Hi10q_W4OMfB9_xA.cspx