Ecumenical Food Pantry
Have you ever had difficulty putting enough food on the table for you and your family? Would you like to help someone who does? Job loss, layoffs, prolonged illness, injuries, and other emergencies put families in our community in that situation every day. The Ecumenical Food Pantry is dedicated to helping less fortunate families in our area. With very little effort, your help and support can make a big difference.
Housed in Grace Lutheran Church, the Food Pantry is supported by four other local area churches: Christ Episcopal, St. Joseph Roman Catholic, United Methodist of Somers Point, and Our Lady of Sorrows. The main pantry, freezer room, and two storage rooms are located adjacent to Fellowship Hall on the lower level of Grace Lutheran and are staffed entirely by volunteers from the local churches. The Pantry is indebted to Mort and Jeanelle B. who coordinated operations for 18 years. Dedicated volunteers and familiar faces to those visiting the pantry include George (present coordinator), Jean, Dottie, Mary, Ruth, Millie, Catherine, Janice, Maryanne, John, Mike, and Frank.
The purpose of the Ecumenical Food Pantry is to provide emergency food for 3 days (9 meals) to families in need within the area of Somers Point, Linwood, and Northfield. In its 20 years of operation, the Food Pantry has provided well over 500,000 meals in addition to distributing food baskets during the holidays. Donations of food come from individuals, churches of the cities served, local supermarkets, local businesses, and government agencies. However, due to the downturn in the economy, more local families have turned to the Ecumenical Food Pantry for help. As a result, the Food Pantry is hard pressed to keep up with the increased need. Currently the Food Pantry is providing food for 450 adults and 150 children per month.
You can help by donating non-perishable foods, household products, and personal care items. The Food Pantry is always in need of canned goods (such as soup, beef stew, baked beans, ravioli, chili), packaged goods (crackers, cold cereal, tea bags), and day-to-day items (laundry detergent, paper towels, bar soap, shampoo, toilet paper). Monetary contributions are also welcome.
The Ecumenical Food Pantry is open and staffed from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. Donations may be dropped off at these times. If you wish to donate, but Pantry hours conflict with your work schedule, you may drop off donations before Sunday church services in the Narthex or in Fellowship Hall next to the Food Pantry.
For further information, contact the Food Pantry during its hours of operation at 927-9982.