Believe it or not, the holiday season is quickly coming and it is time to plan for Project Thanks. Last year the Interfaith Food Bank had 822 families apply, and they anticipate many more this year. The Food Bank and others, our church included, provide a complete Thanksgiving meal to those who meet the criteria set by the Food Bank to receive this Thanksgiving feast.
While we can't help over 800 recipients, we do make a significant contribution to Project Thanks. Last year we served forty families, thanks to your donations of money and turkeys. After consulting with the Vestry, we have committed to provide forty boxes to families this year.
This is a fun and rewarding activity for everyone. Because it is hard for many parishioners to shop for the needed items, we have been asking for monetary donations and turkeys instead of non-perishable groceries. If you wish to purchase canned goods or stuffing, you can sign up to bring them as well as a turkey.
The Food Bank makes every effort to secure funds, donations and turkeys to provide everyone with a Thanksgiving dinner, and those families that have not been adopted by churches or other organizations receive their boxes directly from the Food Bank.
Please sign up to bring a turkey, organize, sort canned goods, bag produce, and/or work on distribution day. All excess donations are given to the Food Bank for distribution or to help purchase needed items. The sign-up sheet is located near the welcome center at the back of the church.
NOTE: If you are going to donate a turkey, it is vital that you sign-up or call Noreen Lafferty so your name can be added to the list. That way we will know exactly how many turkeys we have and do not have to scramble at the last minute to get donations or buy extra turkeys on Sunday. If you are donating nonperishable items, they need to be listed on the sign-up sheet so we can plan accurately what to purchase on Saturday. All donations other than turkeys must be brought to the church by Thursday, November 14th, and placed in the designated boxes so that an accurate count can be done prior to shopping on Saturday.
Volunteers are needed on Friday and Saturday to shop and to organize the canned goods and produce. We order the produce in bulk; however the onions, yams, apples and oranges all need to be bagged according to family size on Friday, November 16th, starting at 10:00 a.m. On Saturday, November 17th we will do the shopping for the nonperishable items and organize them for distribution on Sunday, November 18th. We will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Jane's Hall and organize canned goods and then go shopping. We organize by teams and stores, and purchase items on sale first. This process takes about four hours. On Sunday, November 18th, we all bring our frozen turkeys to church and leave them in the parish hall.
Come join the fun on November 18th at 9:30 am and help fill the boxes with canned goods and produce.
The magic continues after coffee hour with Thanksgiving boxes being distributed from 1 to 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed in the kitchen to fill orders for milk, butter, eggs and pie. Folks are also needed to help participants pick up their Thanksgiving boxes and carry them to their cars.
Thank you for your generosity and support of this project.
Noreen Lafferty, Chairperson
