Re-Stock our Hunger Ministry Pantry

Our Hunger Ministry coordinators are working on plans to hold a food distribution starting in September. Throughout the pandemic, St. Paul's has supported hungry families in the 20895 ZIP code with grocery store gift cards. Now it's time to restock the Hunger Ministry pantry!  Please consider donating one of the items listed here, or even packing a whole bag. If you prefer to make a financial contribution, you can do so at our Giving page, or by check made out to St. Paul's UMC with "Hunger Ministry" on the memo line. Thank you!!


Please note: 

We cannot accept glass containers. 

Our distribution will initially look different from events held before covid. 

Please donate only those items found on the lists below.

Please ensure items have a sell-by or use-by date of October 2021 or later.


REQUESTED ITEMS


(for 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


(for Bag #2)

Vegetables - 3 cans

Fruit (including applesauce) - 2 cans or jars

Peanut Butter - 1 jar

Shelf stable milk (32 oz carton)

A box of breakfast cereal or instant oatmeal


Bonus: For September, we will add a fun, healthy "Back-to-School Snack" to add to Bag #1. Please consider donating the following: granola bars, graham crackers, trail mix, nuts, goldfish crackers, pack of single-size fruit cups.


Donations can be dropped off in the Narthex on Sunday mornings or during drop-in office hours Monday-Thursday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Bags and printed lists will also be available in the Narthex.

food assistance

There is currently NO in-person grocery distribution or meal at St. Paul's. Grocery store cards will be mailed to regular recipients. 


We anticipate returning to a modified grocery distribution in September 2021! Details will be provided in letters to recipients.


Here are additional resources for the 20895 ZIP code that you may find helpful:


FOR COVID-19 VACCINATION INFO: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine

Through this Montgomery County website, you can click to pre-register for a vaccination appointment at a county-run clinic, a state-run mass vaccination site, or another clinic run by a hospital or pharmacy.


FOOD ASSISTANCE:


Bethesda Help provides a short-term supply of emergency groceries. If your family needs a food delivery, please call 301-365-2022. In addition to serving those living in the 20895 ZIP code area, Bethesda Help serves other ZIP codes. Visit their website http://www.bethesdahelp.org/i-need-help for more information about their supports and service area. 


McLean Bible Church is distributing food throughout the Maryland/DC/Virginia region at churches, schools, and apartment communities to anyone in need on a first-come first-served walk-up/drive-up basis. Distribution locations and times are listed weekly on their website. https://mcleanbible.org/montgomery-county/local-outreach-2/


Mid-County United Ministries (MUM) is offering mobile pantries. Dates and locations can be found at https://mumhelp.org/mum-main-location-closed/


Manna has multiple food pantries throughout the region. They have temporarily waived all income requirements! Pre-packaged food boxes are provided to each recipient consisting of: a box of pantry staples (e.g. beans, pasta, canned vegetables, canned fruits); a box of fresh fruits and vegetables; a bag of frozen meat. Appointments are necessary to ensure food is ready for everyone to pick up. Go to http://www.mannafood.org/how-to-receive-food-from-manna/ for more info, or phone 301-424-1130.


Lasagna Love connects those who would like to receive a home-cooked dinner with neighbors who like to cook for others. To request a meal, go to: https://lasagnalove.org/request/


For other questions about St. Paul's resources, contact the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org or phone 301-933-7933 ext 511 and leave a message.

Resources for those outside our service area

We provide food and grocery support to those living in the 20895 ZIP code. Defining our service area allows us to scale our program in a sustainable way. All families who receive food through St. Paul's are asked to show proof of address once a year - we do not ask for any proof of income, citizenship, or any personal information beyond that and do not share our clients' information.


For assistance if your address is outside of our 20895-ZIP code area, or in addition to the Hunger Ministry food aid we offer, here are some helpful resources. (Please note: St. Paul's UMC is not affiliated with these organizations nor responsible for their services or policies.)

Food Drive: THank you!

While St. Paul's Hunger Ministry in-person distribution has been temporarily suspended, we are re-routing food donations to our partner, Bethesda Help. Bethesda Help continues to serve families in the 20895 ZIP code. Rest assured that the food items that were in our pantry have gone to feed hungry members of our community!


We are so pleased to be able to partner with co-sponsors Bethesda Help, the Nighthawks band, and the Town of Kensington - and YOU! Because of your generosity, the Food Drive held at Kensington Town Hall last year on Sunday, May 17, 2020 resulted in sufficient donations to restock the Bethesda Help pantry, plus financial support through $580 in checks, $22 in cash, and 5 Safeway gift cards. 

National UMC & Campus Kitchens

Making Meals Possible

For over two years, St. Paul's served a hot dinner at our Hunger Ministry monthly food distribution. Delivery drivers would stop at St. Paul's on the first Monday of each month with trays of food ready to nourish hungry families and hearty volunteers. The meal was made possible by Campus Kitchen DC, a food ministry of National UMC, which rescues good food, has it transformed by Campus Kitchens, and then delivers it to programs serving those in need. 


You can read more about the mission of National UMC and learn about their efforts region-wide at https://nationalchurch.org/. We are proud to be community partners, working together to eliminate hunger.

Campus Kitchens

Each month, St. Paul's volunteers and families participating in our Hunger Ministry efforts are invited to enjoy a hot meal and time of fellowship in Heavener Hall when they arrive to pick up their grocery items. The dinner comes to us monthly through our partners at National UMC and their work with the Campus Kitchens Project.


Based in Washington, DC, the Campus Kitchens Project links schools large and small with volunteers dedicated to helping end hunger and reducing food waste. Volunteers recover good food from cafeterias and university food services programs that goes unused but would otherwise be thrown out. Volunteers and partners then help prepare fresh dishes and deliver meals to community-based programs like ours, in neighborhoods throughout their local area.


College student and youth volunteers gain first-hand experience in community service and leadership, and the Campus Kitchens initiatives also provide culinary training and educational opportunities for underemployed adults. There are currently over 60 schools across the nation participating in Campus Kitchens.


To learn more, visit https://www.campuskitchens.org/


Past partnerships

Hungry Harvest: This group reclaims fresh produce that would go to waste such as grocery store overstock or mis-shapen "ugly" fruits and vegetables. Individuals subscribe to a box delivery program, and for every box delivered, Hungry Harvest delivers produce to charitable organizations working to reduce and end hunger. Subscribers from our region support produce distribution to food desert and low income public school areas in Baltimore, MD. Visit https://www.hungryharvest.net/ to learn more about Hungry Harvest's mission, delivery area, and sign-up options. 


Rise Against Hunger: As part of St. Paul's "Great Day of Service" in 2017, our church community worked together to weigh dry ingredients, seal bags, and complete over 30,000 meals kits. These were added to a shipping container with another 285,120 meals from the National Capital area warehouse and sent to partner agencies for distribution in El Salvador. Rise Against Hunger meals served 20,000 beneficiaries in El Salvador at 100 different feeding centers. https://www.riseagainsthunger.org/


Interfaith Works Shelters: What do we do with leftovers from Hunger Ministry meals and large events at St. Paul's? In the past, we have donated prepared dishes to homeless shelters in our area to feed their residents. Interfaith Works announced that they will be phasing out services at their nearby Men's Carroll House Shelter and closing that location, so we're looking for a new partner. 

Thank You, Thank you

Even though we have not yet figured out how to safely hold an in-person distribution event, our Hunger Ministry reaches vulnerable families in the 20895 ZIP code by mailing grocery store gift cards. Sometimes we get letters and calls reminding us that our work truly impacts families with fewer means. Here are messages we've received from two families in recent weeks:


"We just wanted to reach out and thank you and your church from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity once again. We're continually humbled and inspired by our community's steady support and care for us and so greatly appreciate it!"


"Thank you for all the great help you have provided for our family."


If you live in the 20895 area and need assistance, please contact us. If you can, please continue setting aside nonperishables now to help restock the St. Paul's pantry. You can also make a gift of financial support at http://stpaulsk.org/giving. Thank you!