Community Service
Food Pantry/Grocery Delivery
10 Interesting Facts
1. FIA and church members help the Deacons identify persons/families that are not food secure
2. We service persons with a valid Niles driver's license or ID (photocopies taken)
3. We have two programs: 3rd Sunday Deliveries (monthly) & Monday Pick-Up (quarterly)
4. When participants are assigned to a program, they tell us their household size and identify special dietary needs
5. 3rd Sunday - 30 bags of groceries are delivered
6. Monday Pick-Up – Persons call the office every 3 months to schedule an afternoon pick-up
7. Up to 4 curbside pick-ups are scheduled every Monday, serving 20+ per month
8. Help is needed, and you do not need to be a Deacon.
2nd Monday – Packing 30 Bags at the Community Ministry Team's monthly meeting
3rd Sunday - 20 Sunday morning volunteers are needed to deliver bags of groceries
Monday Curbside Pick-Ups - 8 afternoon volunteers are needed each month
9. Food/items are donated by the congregation, local businesses and the Post Office Food Drive
10. When donating food, please consider healthy foods that are lower in sugar, fat, and salt, and those that contain whole grains or protein. Please make sure it is not out of date. Our Pantry ALWAYS needs:
Oatmeal and cold cereals
Shelf stable Milk
Soup/chili/beef stew and crackers
“Hamburger Helper” - Also tuna or chicken
Canned tuna/chicken/salmon
Pasta and Sauce
Canned fruit, including applesauce and 100% juice
Brown paper and plastic bags
Backpacks and school supplies
Deacons buy and stock backpacks stuffed with various school supplies and distributed to local elementary and middle schools. They are then disseminated to those youth who otherwise would not be able to provide their own school supplies
Hat and mitten tree
Every Christmas a tree in the parlor is decorated with paper mittens. Congregants can take paper mitten and replace it on the tree with either a pair of gloves or mittens, or a winter hat. These are donated to the Berrien County Juvenile Center.
Snack Packs
Snack packs consisting of popcorn, granola bars, candy, fruit, and a drink are sent to the Berrien County Juvenile Center. Our youth help decorate the bags.
Thanksgiving baskets
Thanksgiving — that one word conjures up your favorite holiday smells and tastes, traditions with family and friends, parades and football on TV. We take a long weekend off from work and school to give thanks for all we have, and the ones we love. It's also a season when we remember that not everyone has enough to eat, and give generously to our Deacon's Food Pantry. Millions of Americans are not food secure, so our church prepares holiday bags for 30+ families in our community. Please help out by donating any of these delicious items:
Turkeys and Refrigerated Foods – Monetary Donations (specify Deacon's Food Pantry)
Dressing, such as Stove Top Stuffing
Instant potatoes and mixes
Gravy
Cream of Soups, such as mushroom
Green Beans
Pumpkin
Yams
Cranberry Sauce
Baking Mixes – Cake, brownie, cookie, etc.
Shelf Stable Milk (including dry, evaporated, condensed)
Brown Sugar
Canola and Olive Oil
Christmas presents
The congregation fulfills Christmas wishes for a set of families, most of whom have children with special needs. Clothes, winter coats, and toys have brought joy to many children.
Military goodie packages
From donations from the congregation, goodie boxes consisting of non-perishable snacks and personal items are mailed to military personnel serving overseas. Other packages are assembled for local Veterans in Niles.
New mother gifts
Personal items and small gifts are donated and given to local hospitals for new mothers who need a little extra assistance.
Blood drive
Each year, the Deacons organize and host a Red Cross Blood Drive. The blood collected serves local hospitals and clinics.
Life Lines
The Deacons provide Lifeline medical alert subscriptions to disabled people who need a way to make emergency contacts.