Lost jobs, low incomes, foreclosures… there is no question there are many families in our community finding themselves unwittingly caught in the undertow of a shaky economy. In these uncertain times, we have an opportunity to reach out to our community and be a blessing to hurting people in their time of need.

Each Thursday afternoon from 3:30-5:00, Mrs. Barbara Miller, a volunteer and long time member at ROCK Church, reports to the church campus at 5301 Sidbury Road to open the doors of the food pantry. Each month, she assists anywhere between 75 & 100 people with food and water to help them get through tough times.

As I talked with Mrs. Barbara, she shared recent story of a young family of four that came in for help. “It was a father who came in with his wife and two boys,” she began, “as they walked in, the man said to me, Ma’am, I know you are only supposed to help us once every two months, but I’ve never had to do this before. I’ve never had to ask for help to feed my family. But neither one of us have a job anymore and we can’t feed our boys or ourselves without help. Is there any way you could help us again?’ “ She said, the humility the father had, and the fact that he had come there with his whole family to ask for help let her know that this was a family in genuine need of a little extra support to get through their time of trouble. The tears welling up in her eyes spoke volumes about how Mrs. Barbara hates to turn anyone away who has a genuine need. And as she was sharing with me, her heart’s desire to be able to expand the reach of this vital ministry was so very evident.

God is using the Food Distribution Team to fill a very great need in our community. You may wonder how you can be a part of helping even more families in need. Here are few practical ways that anyone can help right now:

• Go through your own food supply and fill a bag or two of canned goods, or any non-perishable items you could spare.
• Each time you go to the grocery store for your own family, make it a habit to pick up a few extra items to donate.
• Donate cash. There is a fund set up for this ministry. Anyone at anytime can donate cash or checks made out to ROCK Church and designate it “Food Benevolence”. It will go right into that fund to buy more supplies.

Here’s a list of the kind of items most needed at all times:

• ANY non-perishable food items
• Water
• Baby items
• Toiletries

Items can be dropped off at the Outreach Center on Sunday mornings, at the Church office Tuesday – Thursday from 9am-5pm during the week, or Thursday from 3-5:30 when the Food Distribution Outreach is open.

Matthew 25: 34-40 ~ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

For more information call the church office at 602-5300.