The Need
“Do you have any food?” We get that question a lot at the church. People call and some show up looking for food to help their family get through the week. After meeting with yet another person looking for assistance, I remember writing in an email, “We have to get a food pantry to our part of the city.” We have several members who serve at The Community Cupboard in Lawrence that offers great assistance to our community. The challenge is that it can be a distance for those who live close to the church.
After much conversation and prayer, church member and co-organizer of the North Shadeland Alliance, Joe Garrison, and I met with Gleaners Food Bank. We inquired about the possibility of bringing their summer CARES program, which is a mobile food pantry, to our part of the city. After some emails and meetings, the plan was made. Every Monday June through August 2023, Gleaners would bring the food, we would have to provide the volunteers.
The Response
The response has been wonderful! There have been many members of our congregation along with people from our community who have stepped up this summer to serve. Volunteers have placed milk, apples, and so many other grocery items in the backs of thousands of cars this summer.
Food costs have increased over the last year or so. The strain is felt deeply for families and individuals who experience food insecurity. There have been many vehicles in line for the food distribution filled with kids. I never want anyone to go without food, but when I see children who are food insecure, it breaks my heart. In a divisive culture, it seems like one thing we can agree on is that no one, especially children, should never go hungry. I saw a quote recently by the actor Jeff Bridges who said, “Poverty is a very complicated issue, but feeding a child isn’t.” That’s why we’re standing in the shopping center parking lot every Monday this summer. It’s also why I’m raising funds to support Gleaners this summer.
The Fundraiser
The cost per distribution day for this program to work is approximately $7,710. I have a goal this August to fundraise to help offset the costs of this vital food program in our community by raising $15,420, which would fund two days of distribution. How do I propose to do this?
I am a pastor who serves the church and community. I love our city and I love baseball! I recently read a book about baseball titled A Year of Playing Catch. The author, Ethan Bryan, shares his story of playing catch every day for one year. He also shares a challenge called “30 days of catch” where participants are invited to play catch with 30 different people each day.
During the month of August, I will be playing catch with one person per day as a fundraiser to support the Gleaners CARE Mobile Pantry Program. My goals are simple. I want to raise funds to offset the costs of our neighborhood distribution while building community and relationships through playing catch. I will invite those I play catch with and additional sponsors to commit to a financial donation to Gleaners.
My hope is to play catch with 30 different people including, but not limited to people in my local congregation, fellow clergy in the Indianapolis area, and those who serve our city in different ways. You can sponsor one of my 30 days of catch by clicking the red DONATE tab at the top of the website linked below.
https://give.gleaners.org/fundraiser/4739257
Thank you for supporting Gleaners and my 30 days of catch!