St Paul’s Hunger Ministry feeds over 115 families in the 20895 zip code.
We serve families who struggle to make ends meet and put food on their tables.
Upcoming Distribution:
RECIPIENTS: Until further notice, Hunger Ministry clients will receive grocery store gift cards through the mail. The gift card amount has temporarily increased. We will NOT provide grocery items for pick-up, deliveries, or a meal. This reduces the risk of spreading illness at a distribution site while providing flexibility for clients to purchase whatever grocery-store items they deem essential for their families.
DONORS: You can help support the Hunger Ministry with monetary donations (stpaulsk.org/giving). We will re-open a drop-off and distribution process as soon as we can find a way to do so safely.
Please note: All events are subject to change as we respond to the evolving COVID-19 corona-virus outbreak. Updates will be posted here.
One thing we have learned: area food banks are desperate for help year-round. People respond well during the holiday season when food pantries fill to the brim. But as the year unfolds, the need remains while the shelves empty. To meet this need, the St. Paul's Justice and Compassion Team invites you to contribute generously each month.
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
We are assessing how to revamp our program while we are closed due to COVID-19. Under our previous operating conditions, friends of St. Paul's fill our donation bins with non-perishable foods on Communion Sunday, the 1st Sunday of each month, and volunteers transport food from the Narthex to the Fellowship Hall, sort grocery items, and organize bags. On the following day, volunteers arrive at 6:45 p.m. to set up for Monday night distribution. Additional food sorting, greeting recipients, serving a hot meal, and working on seasonal projects are all possible tasks. Our volunteer drivers deliver food to recipients who are home-bound.
To get involved, contact the church office: stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org. Erin Steele, office administrator, will get your message to our Hunger Ministry coordinators, and they'll find the best ways for you to be involved!
HOW TO RECEIVE FOOD
There are no on-site distribution events currently due to COVID-19. Food recipients for our program must have an address in the 20895 ZIP code area. To sign up, contact the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org or phone 301-933-7911 EXT 511 and provide your name and a call-back telephone number. We are currently providing grocery store gift cards by mail. Please contact Bethesda Help to request a delivery of grocery items to your door: 301-365-2022.
Under normal operations, we provide a hot meal and grocery items once a month. Families with children may also select free children's books. Special Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gifts for children are offered seasonally. Here's how to receive assistance here during normal operations:
- Recipients should arrive at the Fellowship Hall entrance (on the corner of Fawcett & Mitchell Streets) at 7:30 p.m. on Distribution Nights (the Monday following the first Sunday of each month). To stay on top of any schedule changes due to holidays, please check this site or the paper letter distributed each month along with the food.
- New recipients should bring a piece of mail or other evidence showing an address in the 20895 area. That's it! There are no income requirements, no need for referrals... we'll feed anyone living in the 20895 ZIP code area.
- Please note, our program is limited to those who live within the 20895 ZIP code. (Please see the section below for other resources if you don't have a 20895 address.)
- If you cannot attend on distribution night, please call 301-933-7933 ext 511 before 12:00 noon on distribution day, to request a pick up in the church office during the week.
- We have a limited capacity to offer home delivery to those who are disabled or home-bound - please contact us to discuss this possibility.
HOW TO DONATE
We welcome non-perishable food, Safeway & Giant grocery store gift cards ($20 value each, please), and financial donations any time.
Food Donation Suggestions
- Non-perishable food items can be placed in bins in the church Narthex when the church is open.
- We always need the pantry staples listed on the shopping/packing "Bag #1 and Bag #2" lists (see below).
- We especially need cold and hot cereals.
- ALL unopened, shelf-stable donations are appreciated. Bottle of olive oil? Box of pancake mix? Granola bars? Crackers? Nuts? We'll take it!
- Please make sure all donations are not expired or beyond their use-by date!
You can help streamline our sorting process by packing a full bag of essential food items using the guide below. Please attach a number to your filled bag so we know when it's ready to distribute - no additional sorting or packing needed!
Bag #1
Rice - 1 bag or large box or 2 small boxes
Beans - 1 bag or 2 cans
Pasta - 1 box or bag
Pasta Sauce - 1 large jar or can
Mac & Cheese - 2 boxes
Chicken Breast - 1 or 2 cans
Tuna (or other fish) - 2 cans
Bag #2
Vegetables - 3 cans
Fruit (including applesauce) - 2 cans or jars
Peanut Butter - 1 jar
Jelly or Jam - 1 jar or bottle
Soup - 2 or 3 cans
**PLEASE NO GLASS**
Please deliver donations when the church is open. We are currently closed due to COVID-19. Under normal operations, the church is open on Sunday mornings, or throughout the work week Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Food is normally sorted on the first Sunday of the month; food is distributed to families the following day. We look forward to being able to resume on-site, in-person operations once we can find a way to do so safely.