Dear Friends and Supporters of the Food Pantry,

I would like to share a quote with you that has helped change and inspire my heart. It is from Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision. He said,

May my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.

Immediately, we can all think of things that break God’s heart. War, famine, disease, hate, abuse, and well the list could go on and on. With that knowledge can come a sense of sadness and helplessness. Sometimes wondering just how much one person can do? Well although we may feel powerless, we are not. We can truly make a difference in another life when we share our smile, a hug, our prayers, and our hope in our loving God and savior.

The world can sometimes overwhelm us with our daily struggles like our health, our relationships, our finances, our job, or all the above. I know in my own personal life and struggles it has been hope that I will get through it, to “keep on keeping on” that has sustained me. That hope came from jugs, to notes of encouragement, and even mysterious cash donations to buy groceries. We all need encouragement and to bear one another’s burdens. To offer hope is one of the greatest blessings we can give.

This week at the pantry I met a new client. I’ll call her “Suzie” (not her real name). She had come once before and was clearly in a lot of physical pain. I wrongly assumed it was cold weather related. Maybe arthritis? Well “Suzie” came again this week and we finally had a chance to visit and talk privately. Sweet “Suzie” let me know that her pain was in fact due to her prosthetic legs bothering her. She had fallen and suffered an injury where one of the prosthetic pins are. She then showed me the scars and the mechanics of how they work. She was healing from the fall. Let me tell you, inside my heart was breaking for her. For her daily struggle with her “new nom1al”. Suzie is a pretty lady with a “go get ’em” spirit. I am so glad we got to visit. It reminded me that it’s not just about the food but also friendship and most of all HOPE!!

Dear friends it is now the pantry that needs help and hope. We are in a crisis situation. Where once we helped maybe 30 families a month, we now are helping closer to 120 families nearly quadrupling our need. Where we only needed 30 jars of peanut butter a month 5 years ago we now need 120. That 120 of each item needed to fill the 2 bags of food we give each person. Our economy is struggling, and the dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to. I ask that you pray about how you might help us. Please pray for us all, that we can be restorers of hope. To do the Lord’s work, to be his hands. To share His heart and His love.

I will leave you with Matthew 25:37-40 which is part of our pantry mission statement:

Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison and go and visit you? The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Thank you for your time and I pray God Bless you abundantly.

Sincerely,

Jill Pruett