SOUTH CHURCH FIGHTS HUNGER

 Jesus taught us that in as much as we give food to the hungry, we are giving it to HIM.  So in His name we give.

South Church supports AMAZING GRACE, the food pantry in Middletown.  We are the "tuna fish church"!  We have made a commitment to Amazing Grace to supply over 100 cans of tuna EVERY month in addition to other items.

In 2011, Amazing Grace provided 324,000 food items to 10,119 households - over 800 households per month.  South Church collected and donated 6,841 pounds of food to Amazing Grace in 2011.

AUGUST 11 - South Church people will be at the Stop & Shop stores in Middletown and Cromwell from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM collecting food for Amazing Grace.  Please contact Joan Harvey (860-347-1603) or Nan O'Brien (860-344-1598) to volunteer.

Following up on the food collection of August 11, South Church received this email from St. Vincent De Paul.

Food Drives Work!   Recent food drives have helped to replenish typically low shelves this time a year at Amazing Grace Food Pantry, a program of St. Vincent De Paul Middletown. Many thanks to members of South Congregational Church and the Middletown Police Department who held food drives at Stop and Shop markets in Middletown and Cromwell and at Price Chopper in Middletown earlier this month.   The South Congregational Church collected 1,344 pounds along with $637.00 in money and gift cards. The Middletown Police Department organized the "Fill the Cruiser Event" at Price Chopper, and collected 1,388 pounds of food and $540.00. City Hall contributed 100 pounds of food and $149.   Food drives are crucial as St. Vincent De Paul's Amazing Grace Food Pantry is currently distributing 30,000 pounds of food per month to an average of 950 shoppers, an increase of 13% from last year.   "Fifteen percent of all the food at Amazing Grace is donated through organized food drives," explained St. Vincent de Paul's executive director Ron Krom. "Food drives are extremely helpful.  A food drive can just be a one-day commitment and can potentially bring in 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of food."   We have many partners working to help feed the hungry in the Middletown Community and are blessed by all our friends in the community who consistently support our efforts. About forty percent of our food comes from churches, businesses, schools, organizations, and families that commit to regular food donations throughout the year.   If you would like to learn more about supporting our work and/or facilitating a food drive, please contact Amazing Grace, located at 16 Stack Street in Middletown. (Follow the link for directions!)   Food donations will be accepted Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and on Saturday from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Please call if we can provide you any additional information, 860-344-0097 x10, or 860-347-3222.

 Hi Rev. Marshall,