When a customer walks into the front door of our pantry, we give that individual a free sack of assorted groceries. We fill the bag in a separate room while other volunteers inquire whether the customer would like a Bible, a tract, etc. A typical sack of groceries includes a couple cans of vegetables, a couple cans of fruit, spaghetti sauce, noodles, crackers, a can of tuna fish, a couple cans of soup, a couple boxes of macaroni-and-cheese mix, and a box of cereal.
On average, we serve 60 clients a week. Though most are not homeless, many are jobless and unable to make ends meet on government support. Many have health problems that make them unemployable. They are broken, humble people who have taken a giant step of humility to walk through our doors.
We do not serve meals primarily because we do not have a kitchen. Unfortunately, at this time we do not have the funds to offer cash assistance or pay electric bills, etc.
While we are concerned about the physical needs of the people who visit our pantry, our primary desire is to nourish their souls. For those who do not know Jesus as Savior, we endeavor to lead them to Jesus through the distribution of Bibles, gospel tracts, and through personal interaction.
We also offer occasional extra activities for our clients, including movie nights, a cooking class, and summer vacation Bible school for children. Additional activities are being planned.