December Newsletter!

Newsletter

December, 2017

Here's What's Been Going on at Food for Families This Month!

Christmas Dinner and So Much More!

This past week we received a generous donation of about 11,000 lbs. of goods from Gleaning for the World! The donation consisted of a number of items including blankets, baby food and 200 complete Christmas dinners (turkey, corn, green beans, fruit, stuffing, potatos and mac and cheese)! We also received over 12,000 lbs. from the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Walmart ! Thank you all for your generosity!

Monthly Numbers Served

November 2017

Food Distribution

801 Families Served

2,097 Individuals Served

677 Children (18 & under)

1,101 Adults (19-59)

319 Seniors(60+)

Food for Families Immersion Experience!

This past month the United Methodist Church's Lynchburg District Office hosted their first ever Food for Families Immersion Experience. The Experience will be held about once a month and consists of a small luncheon with a few church, business and community leaders in the area. We gather to hear from Food for Families staff and volunteers about all that is going on at Food for Families and how God is moving in the hearts of people. After lunch, the group gathers downstairs to be a part of the Thursday distribution where leaders get to meet our neighbors and see firsthand how God is working!

The UMC District Office headed by Scott Davis (District Supervisor) and Leigh Anne Taylor (Revitalization Coordinator) has been in full support of this ministry and encourages us daily to continue in sharing the love of Christ in every encounter. They are eager to help others become aware of the great need in this community and the incredible things that are happening here at Park View. We are so thankful for you both!

Liberty University's Family and Consumer Science (FACS) Department Comes Through Once Again!

Members From the FACS Honor Society Decorate for Christmas!

The waiting area for our neighbors looks bright and cheery for the Christmas season, thanks to students from the FACS Honor Society! They spent one Saturday morning decorating, and were encouraged to see the neighbors' faces light up with smiles as they did so. Thank you to the Honor Society for caring for our neighbors so well!

The Interior Design Association Gives Park View A Fresh New Look!

On December 3rd students from the FACS Department's Interior Design Association donated materials and spent hours repainting our entryway. They brightened up the space to create a more welcoming environment for all who enter! A big thank you to the Interior Design Association!

Kids' Corner!

Families from Bedrock Lynchburg Church volunteered Saturday, December 9th to help out with the distribution! They spent time serving in the pantry, coloring with kids, talking and praying with our neighbors.

Our Kids' Corner provides kids a place to color, read, and play with toys. Parents love the space too, because it keeps kids entertained while waiting to shop, which can sometimes take hours. But we need help to keep the area supplied! See the list below for donation items that we could use to provide for the kids!

Needed Items!!!

*** Most needed items in RED

Hygiene: Soap, Toothpaste, Deodorant, Shampoo, Toilet Paper , Hairbrushes, Q-tips (small containers), Clorox Wipes (small containers), Lotion, Shaving Cream, Razors, Laundry Detergent, Towels & Washcloths. Baby: Baby Wipes, Diapers (newborn, size 6), Baby Wash, Baby Food/Cereal/Formula.

Kitchen: Trash Bags (45, 60 gal. heavy duty), Ziploc Bags (gallon, quart) Food Items: Hamburger Helper, Rice, Macaroni & Cheese, Stuffing, Canned Meats (tuna, chicken), Breakfast Cereal, Chef Boyardee, Peanut butter Jelly, Canned fruit.

Clothing: Blankets, Socks, Gloves, Winter Coats.

Kids' Corner: Crayons, Coloring/Reading Books, Puzzles, Games, Toys

Coffee Ministry: Coffee cups, coffee filters, coffee grounds, regular coffee creamers

Did You Know???

All of our food waste at the end of each distribution is given to a pig farmer who is raising pigs to provide meat to feed families at the Agape Center, a food pantry in Moneta, VA!

Computer Classes Provided by First National Bank!

Our first computer class was held on November 30th and 9 of our neighbors attended! They began a 6 week long program to learn basic computer skills in Word, Excel & Power Point.

Please contact our office with any additional questions!

Coffee Ministry!

While our neighbbors are waiting to shop we want to make sure their time is not wasted. We desire to create a communal space where neighbors can feel safe and warm, enjoy a cup of coffee and and engage in meaningful conversations with one another, staff, and volunteers. Please help us to create this atmosphere; a place for opportunities to encourage our neighbors, bring them hope and make them feel loved! See the list above for donated items that are needed to support this ministry.

The Ongoing Need!

Food for Families, an integral part of the Park View Community Mission, assists in providing over 700 families each month with supplemental groceries and essentials.

We need your help! With the generosity of Feeding America, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Walmart, we have access to food at little cost. In order to fill our pantry with enough food for these families, we need your financial support to help with heating and cooling expenses, food refrigeration, utilities, vehicle maintenance, and operations. We are looking for Family Sponsors so that we can provide what is needed for each of these families. Please consider how you can financially support Food for Families with a donation that is sincerely appreciated.

Donate Here!

A Letter From Our Neighbor, Our Friend...

To the staff and volunteers at Park View,

I cannot express my gratitude or thank you enough for all you do and have done, for your services, support, encouragement and spiritual guidance. I am blessed to know you.

A Sister in Christ

THANK YOU, DEE!

Dee Booth, a member of Fort Hill UMC, was our faithful newsletter writer and editor for 6 months! She started up the newsletter and provided vibrant stories and announcements for us monthly. Dee will no longer be able to write up the monthly newsletter because of her commitment in service with the music and children's ministry at church. We could not be more thankful for all that she has done! We love you, Dee!

Thank you to all our volunteers who work tirelessly to join us in fulfilling the mission and vision which God has called us to here! You all encourage us to keep on and we really wouldn't be able to do all that we do without you! We appreciate you all more than you know!