“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.“
Matthew 25:35-40
The text above is just one of the many times Jesus tells us to feed the hungry. This month this diocese nears a major milestone in carrying out that imperative. The 4Saints Episcopal Food Pantry, located at St. Luke in the Meadow Episcopal Church in east Fort Worth is almost ready to open. People from all over the diocese are invited to get involved.The food pantry needs regular volunteers as well as volunteers for a MLK day of Service on Monday, January 16. So assemble a team of volunteers from your congregation and come work together.
How can you help?
The pantry needs volunteers to work on Thursdays and Fridays. The food pantry expects to be open from noon to 2 pm on Fridays to serve the Meadowbrook area of east Fort Worth.
Volunteer Coordinator Don Mayer said,
Serving would involve about 3-4 hours of your time, 11 am to 2 pm Fridays; the pantry will assist clients from noon to 2 pm.
Additionally, we need a second group of Thursday morning volunteers at 8:30 am to unload the incoming food delivery truck, and then to stock the pantry. That should take a couple of hours.
If you can serve at least once a month, that would be great! If you know of others who are looking for volunteer work, please invite them.
If you feel called to help feed the hungry, please contact Don Mayer at dfmayer@flash.net. He has information on what volunteer slots are available and what training may be needed.
MLK Day of Service, January 16, 9-2
The MLK Day of Service is an opportunity for whole congregations to get involved. The pantry seeks help to finish setting up the pantry space, assembling shelving, and moving furniture into place, as the pantry prepares to open.
MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 16, 2017
9 am – 2 pm
St. Luke’s in the Meadow Episcopal Church
4301 Meadowbrook Dr. Fort Worth 76103
More day of service information is available from Judy Cariker at 817-946-9787 or jhcariker@gmail.com.
About the pantry
4 Saints Episcopal Food Pantry is a new Episcopal food bank at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located in the Meadowbrook neighborhood of east Fort Worth, a food desert. The pantry board has members from the Fort Worth East Deanery, which includes St Stephen’s, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St Luke’s, and St Alban’s. Annabelle Sauer, a Girl Scout from Troop 3012, also serves on the board. Through Sauer’s efforts, 4 Saints Food Pantry received a $500 grant from a local utility company.
In addition to support received from deanery churches, the pantry received a grant from funds set aside by General Convention for Mission Enterprise Zones and a mission and outreach grant from our diocese. Patti Callahan serves as president of the board, Judy Cariker as the director, and Don Mayer as the volunteer coordinator.
Bishop Scott Mayer said, “The Diocese of Fort Worth is on the map in terms of being known as a place for innovation and risk-taking adventures. This pantry and its collaboration of church people is driven to meet the hunger needs of the community that surrounds our diocesan office. I encourage you to get involved in the hands-on, hearts-wide-open ways that Episcopalians in our diocese are becoming known for.”