Food Pantry is open at the church on the last two

Saturdays of every month January - October from 2:00PM - 4:00PM downstairs in the lower level community services area of the church.   

                                                                            Community Services Director: Sister Sharon  

  

Sister Sharon checks in a recipient

                                                                                             

Elder Nathaniel

                           Sister Clara Checking in recipients                      Elder Joyce, Sis Lillie, Sis Gloria, Sis Sharon - Head & Sis Clara

Volunteers in prayer before doors open

“I was hungry and you fed me” Community Services Food Pantry
By Sharon and Linda 

The Bible says in Matthew 25:35 (NIV) “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…”  The Sharon Church food pantry operates under the direction of Sister Sharon. She has a team of volunteers helping, including an Elder on duty to assist with spiritual needs. The Oregon food bank helped us determine that there was an unmet need for food towards the end of the month because food stamps were then depleted, and many other local food programs were open at the beginning of each month. Therefore, the food pantry is open on the last 2 Saturdays of the month from 2-4PM. Once a recipient arrives, they are interviewed briefly. Based on the size of the family and their individual needs, they are given a suggested shopping list.  They are then allowed to enter the pantry with a shopping cart and select various items on the shelves. The list tells them how many items they can select from each particular shelf. We are currently serving 25 families a month which is the equivalent of about 50-60 people. “We try to develop a personal relationship with the recipients” said Sister Sharon; “they respond in a very positive manner to this system.” Sister Sharon went on to explain that a lady recently came in asking if the pantry was for homeless people? Her reply was of course; Sister Sharon proceeded to help the lady pick items from the shelves that would not require cooking or refrigeration.

On another occasion two weeks ago, during the welcome, a man stood up to introduce himself as a guest and instead of saying his name he merely said “Food Pantry” and we discovered that he attended the service prior to coming down
and receiving his food. Sister Sharon said that he waited patiently and when it was time to interview him, she discovered he hadn’t eaten in 24 hours. She fed him on the spot, then helped him get food for his recent transitional housing, she even gave him a can opener to open food the items. He went on to explain that he really enjoyed the church service and would be back again soon.                    
 
Included in the volunteers are those who help check people in and assist them with shopping and keeping the shelves stocked. There is also an Elder from the church on duty to help provide spiritual needs of the recipients. Translators are often available to assist with the Spanish speaking population.                
 
Other departments within the church have partnered with community events. As well the health and temperance department has provided free blood pressure checks for receivers. Last month the food pantry partnered with a local barber “Terrell
Brandon’s” shop (where our own Loren, our drummer works as a barber) that gave away tickets for free hair cuts as a “back to school” initiative. During another month the food pantry handed out flyers for county free cervical cancer screenings.  The Health department of Sharon Church often does free blood pressure screenings as well.             

If you would like to help the food pantry, they are in need of personal items such as laundry and dish soap, toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes.  Donations can be made online at www.sharonsda.net or directly to the
church.

Matthew 25:37, 40 (NIV) goes on to say “…Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something
to drink? The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.