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Food Pantry Emergency Storage

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LOVE IS SPOKEN HERE...This is not just a plaque that hangs over the door of the Jensen Beach Christian Church and Food Pantry, it is its life blood.  It is the reason for its existence.  Also spoken here is tolerance, inclusiveness, kindness, joy and laughter and the love of and dedication to God.  Love gives us a great deal in life, but it is not quite enough when we are feeding more than 400 families each and every week.  It also takes help to do what is needed.  Now, we need your help.  Our small church houses the 2nd largest food bank in our four county area, but cannot hold even a small percentage of the food which passes through our doors to the hungry.   We are desperate for food storage space.  Right now, we do not have any storage other than what we squeeze out of our church closets and kitchen pantry.  This fund-raiser is for a double-bay storage building with overhead doors.  Food distribution trucks now drop 10-15,000 lbs of  food and supplies in our front yard and volunteers carry them into the kitchen for storage and distribution.   Overhead doors in a 20x40 storage building would allow the trucks to back right up to the doors and unload directly into the building.  The food would be safe and protected from Florida's high heat, humidity and insects and we would have the space to organize and distribute safely for our families.  We know this is not a very exciting need, but it is a critical long-term investment into a community with permanent need. 

I am a volunteer with this incredible non-profit organization.  I dropped by one of their yard sales a few months ago (more on that later) and haven't looked back.  I am one of many volunteers.  As a matter-of-fact, there are NO paid staff.  Our church and food pantry are run completely by volunteers.  Even our hard-working Pastor, Guy Calvert, and his equally hard-working wife, Janet, are unpaid.  Every penny raised supports the ministry of the church and the Food Pantry.  Our congregation is small and most live well below the poverty line.  They still manage to give all they can in time and commitment.  Approximately 40 volunteers a week give 4 hours each to the church and pantry.  Love flows in all directions with this church and so does a bone-deep commitment to make lives better in body and spirit. 

So, where does the money come from to support the food pantry, ministry, buildings, utilities and seemingly endless needs of the church?  Well, to begin with, we DO NOT pass the plate on Sunday.  Pastor Guy believes what you give is between you and God, not you and the church so a donation box sits by the door for those who can afford to give.  We DO NOT receive government grants.  We believe The Lord will provide and He has, for over 8 years now.  Remember my yard sale visit?  Well, they have a lot of yard sales to help cover utilities and other hard costs.  They reach out to businesses for food and supplies they would have to buy to supplement the pantry and they work...hard!!  Guy and Janet are not the types to sit around and pray all will work out.  They pray, unquestionably.  Then they barter, trade, negotiate and generously give without effort to those in need when called to do so.  They donate time and food to disaster relief and work to suport every hunger program in the area.   Those who work with this small but mighty charity have grown to understand how effectively it scrapes together every imaginable resource and we are honored to throw our own efforts in where we are most needed.   Without a doubt, money is always in short supply.  However, Guy and Janet have developed a system and philosophy which focuses on the needs of the community and so the resources manage to come in to meet the immediate needs.

Our charitable numbers are formidible for such a small congregation of about 50 regular attendees.  In the 8 years since Guy and Janet fought to renovate the little church and get it registered as a historic property, 8 million pounds of food have been donated to, and shared with, hungry people and their pets.  Distribution is weekly at about 15-20,000 lbs of food given each week.  We are the 2nd largest food pantry within 4 counties with over 40 volunteers averaging 4 hours per week each.  

This storage facility will take care of the need we have to protect and distribute the food we currently receive.  It will also allow us to grow in our ability to serve the community and work with other organizations in times of emergency.  A local business has volunteered to pour the slab for the building so we are up and running toward our goal.

LOVE IS SPOKEN HERE...your donation can keep our voice clear and loud.  Please help if you can.  100% of every donation will go directly to the purchase of the storage building.  If you cannot donate, please pass this on to those who might be able to help.
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Donations 

  • R Lance
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $500 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Adam Lupinski
    • $10 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $6 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • JBCC Congregation
    • $2,100 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Connie Stafford
Organizer
Jensen Beach, FL

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