Hi Team – This Easter Sunday was a slow day for your Stroudwater Food Pantry, but the 15 families we served were very appreciative that we were open.  A total of 48 people received groceries, with 1 new family joining us this week.

Our Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups, along with this week’s donations, yielded a total of 1,878 lbs. This week’s volunteers included Anne, Michael C, Autumn W, Steve, Lois, Adam, Terry, Angie and myself.

A special thank you to the unknown family in a blue van who celebrated their Easter by dropping off many bags of can food, baby formula, and a stack of cereal boxes at our pantry door!  And a special thank you to our teammates who volunteered on Easter to keep open the doors of your Stroudwater Food Pantry!   — Doug

Hi Team – It was a slow Sunday this week at your Stroudwater Food Pantry.  We served 30 families, with a total of 86 people receiving groceries. 3 new families joined us this week.

Our Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups on Friday yielded a total of 1,370 lbs., plus 207 lbs. of food donated from our church family.  This week’s volunteers included Anne, Adam, Jenn, Jean, Karlene, Frank, Terry, Michael C, Autumn W, Mei C, Steve, Rena, Tammy and myself.

On Saturday 3/18 our church hosted a Night Out at Stroudwater.  It was a night of comedy, music and singing, with all proceeds and food donations going to the Stroudwater Food Pantry.  Danny Bullis organized the night and provided the comic relief, while two of bands (including the Worship Team) rocked the house.  It was a great night out, was well attended, and raised $375 and 173 lbs. of food for your Stroudwater Food Pantry.  Thank you Danny and Worship Team!  — Doug

Hi Team  – I hope you are all weathering the snow storm!  This week your Stroudwater Food Pantry served 38 families, with a total of 123 people receiving groceries. 7 new families joined us this week.

Our Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups on Friday yielded a total of 1,536 lbs., plus 30 lbs. of food donated from our church family.  This week’s volunteers included Anne, Adam, Jenn, Jean, Michael C, Autumn W, Mei C, Steve, Rena, and myself.

Beginning the second week in February we started to see a seasonal decline in rescue food intake from Hannaford and SHAW’S, particularly in meats.  This is expected; we’ve seen it before, however, our newly expanded storage and freezer capacity has made it much easier for us to manage it.  We now have the ability to hold a portion of our frozen products in reserve for those weeks when our intake is light (like this week).  Praise the Lord for all the cash and equipment donations last year that are now making it easier for your Stroudwater Food Pantry to better serve our community this year!                  —  Doug

Hi Team  – Happy March!  This week your Stroudwater Food Pantry served 36 families, with a total of 106 people receiving groceries. 9 new families joined us this week.

Our Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups on Friday yielded a total of 1,879 lbs., plus 63 lbs. of food donated from our church family.  This week’s volunteers included Anne, Adam, Jenn, Michael C, Karlene, Rena, Lois, Angie and myself.

Even though February was a light month, we closed out the month feeding 160 families almost 6.5 tons of food; Praise the Lord for the bounty He continues to provide to allow your Stroudwater Food Pantry to serve those in need!  — Doug

Hi Team   – This week your Stroudwater Food Pantry served 48 families, for a total of 128 people receiving groceries. 5 new families joined us this week.

Our Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups on Friday yielded a total of 2,173 lbs.  This week’s volunteers included Anne, Adam, Jenn, Michael C, Steve, Karlene, Rena, Terry, Ellen, Sarah W, and myself.

We closed out January feeding more than 200 families more than 8 tons of food; Praise the Lord for the bounty He has provided to allow your Stroudwater Food Pantry to serve those in need!   —  Doug

Hi Team   – It was a quiet week for your Stroudwater Food Pantry, serving 26 families, for a total of 95 people receiving groceries. 4 new families joined us this week.  Our Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups on Friday yielded a total of 1,529 lbs.  This week’s volunteers included Anne, Adam, Jenn, Sheamus, Angie, Teresa, Michael C, Steve, Karlene, Rena, Terry, and myself.

Thank you to all the volunteers who pickup food and deliver it to the church; sort, bag, and put away food on Fridays; and share both groceries and the love of Christ with our clients on Sundays.  You are the people who enable your Stroudwater Food Pantry to make such a difference in the greater Portland community!  — Doug

Hi Team   – Your Stroudwater Food Pantry had a busy Sunday serving 56 families, for a total of 156 people receiving groceries. 8 new families joined us this week.  Our Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups on Friday yielded a total of 1,829 lbs.  This week’s volunteers included Anne, Adam, Jenn, Michael C, Steve, Karlene, Rena, Terry, Tammy and myself.

Our Strategic Planning Meeting was held Sunday, January 8^th.  We reviewed how our 2016 accomplishments aligned with our strategic objectives; we appraised our growth and reviewed strategies on our growth management going forward.  Much of what was discussed will be covered in the SFP Annual Report that will be published later this month.  We had a very good turnout for the planning meeting, and my special thanks to all in attendance who participated in shaping the future of your Stroudwater Food Pantry!      —  Doug

Hi Team – Your Stroudwater Food Pantry recorded its busiest Sunday ever, serving  56 families for a total of 170 people receiving groceries. 4 new families joined us this week, taking us to a new total of 512 households registered to receive groceries on a regular basis.

The Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups on Friday yielded a total of 2,120 lbs. Including 956 lbs. of donations and food purchases, volunteers processed 1.5 tons of food for the week.   This week’s volunteers included Anne, Adam, Jenn, Sheamus, Michael C, Steve, Karlene, Tammy, Judy, Ellen, Terry, and Lois.

What’s Happening at SFP –

• Thank you to our corporate sponsor Charter Communications (formally known as Time Warner Cable) for partnering with us on their second food drive of the year !!  Wednesday we picked up 438 lbs. of can food and other dry stores including breakfast cereal, peanut butter, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce.
• Last month Charter Communications approached us about doing a news segment in the “Your Magazine” section of their community news television programming.  It has been running on their cable channel for the past two weeks and is now available at the following link.  We will be posting this link on our blogsite to assist in our ongoing work to educate the community to the needs of the meal insecure, and to encourage support in our effort to serve those in need.  http://www.myspectrumsports.com/videos/2016/12/15/me-stroudwater-food-pantry

• SFP Strategic Planning Meetings kickoff January 8^th, please hold this date.  We will review our vision for this church ministry, and outline the plans for our continued long term service.  Anyone interested in supporting this ministry or knowing more about how we operate is welcome to join us.
• Stroudwater Food Pantry is closed on Christmas, Sunday 12/25.  We are open the Sunday following Christmas, New Year’s Day, and our next pantry report will be published in the first week of the new year.

The Lord has mightily blessed the ministry of your Stroudwater Food Pantry with tremendous growth and expansion during its first full year of operation.  As we look forward to the new year, may He continue to guide and direct us to be the good stewards of the of the ministry He has charged us with!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!   — Doug

Hi Team – Your Stroudwater Food Pantry had a busy Sunday serving  52 families, for a total of 170 people receiving groceries. 4 new families joined us this week, taking us to a new total of 508 households registered to receive groceries on a regular basis.

Our Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups on Friday yielded a total of 1,964 lbs. (almost a ton) processed for the week.   This week’s volunteers included Anne, Adam, Jenn, Michael C, Jean, Steve, Karlene, Tammy, Abby & Mike.

What’s Happening at SFP –

• On Wednesday Adam, Jean and I installed our new heavy duty steel shelves in the Pantry storage room.  It was purchased with a small part of the donation from the Maine Marathon Committee.  The shelving represents both a blessed answer to prayer, and the conclusion of our 6 months-long expansion into our storage room.  The monstrous unit holds up to 40 banana boxes and is certified to support almost 9 tons of food.
• Charter Communications (formally known as Time Warner Cable) has partnered with us on their second food drive of the year.  They kicked off their can food collection beginning December 8^th and will conclude December 20^th.  Adam and I will pick up their donations Wednesday the 21^st – if anyone wishes to help with the pickup please email me or reach out to Adam when you see him.
• SFP Strategic Planning Meetings kickoff Sunday January 8^th, please hold this date.  We will review our vision for this church ministry, and lay the plans for our continued long term service.  The entire church is invited to join in!
• Stroudwater Food Pantry is closed on Christmas, Sunday 12/25.  Pantry clients have been notified and are encouraged to come to the pantry Sunday 12/18 to receive a 2 week supply of groceries.  We are open the Sunday following Christmas, New Year’s Day.

Thank you pantry volunteers who have been so patient for the last several months during our bit-by-bit expansion into our additional space.  We finally made it!!                         —  Doug

Hi Team – This Sunday your Stroudwater Food Pantry served 45 families, for a total of 149 people receiving groceries. 9 new families joined us this week, taking us to a new total of 504 households registered to receive groceries on a regular basis.

Our Shaw’s food pickup and two Hannaford food pickups on Friday yielded a total of 1,819 lbs.; donations came to 589 lbs. for a total of 2,405 lbs. of food processed for the week.   This week’s volunteers processed 1¼ tons of food, and included Anne, Adam, Jenn, Michael C, Jean, Steve, Karlene, Ellen, Terry, Laura, Angie and myself.   

What’s Happening at SFP:

• Thank you Health Source Chiropractic Center on Brighton Ave!! They have concluded their food drive on our behalf, collecting 328 lbs. of can food and other dry stores, and also collecting $225 in donations and Hannaford gift cards.
• Thank you Creating Space Yoga on Congress Street!! They have concluded their food drive on our behalf, collecting a box of can food and other dry stores.  I have encouraged them to consider hosting another food drive leading up to Easter, 2017.

Your Stroudwater Food Pantry now serves over 500 families in the greater Portland area!!  Thank you Church family for your continued support that makes this possible, and a big Thank You to the Volunteers of SFP whose tireless commitment to serve those in need exemplifies the words of our Savior when He said,

“For I was hungry, and you fed me…”                                                 — Doug