Rooted in Abundance:
You're Invited to the Table
| | October 21 is right around the corner! On that morning, we'll come together to celebrate eleven years of abundance at Galilee, and we'd love for you to be at the table! RSVPs are open for the Power of 11: Abundance in Action Breakfast, and there are plenty of ways to sign up and serve in the days leading up to it. Inside, you'll also find remarkable growth at Lydia's Pantry, our Annual Winter Coat Drive, and a few save-the-dates for the season ahead. We are grateful you are part of it. | | RSVP by October 9: Power of 11 Abundance in Action Breakfast | | |
Eleven years ago, Galilee opened its doors with a kitchen, a handful of volunteers, and a simple belief: there would always be enough to go around. That belief has carried us through countless shared meals, stocked shelves, and neighbors welcomed by name.
On October 21, we'll gather to celebrate that legacy with a breakfast featuring The Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman, 12th Bishop Diocesan of North Carolina. Together, we'll look ahead as we work toward our goal of $100,000 by the end of 2026.
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🗓️ Wednesday, October 21, 2026
⏰ 10:00 – 11:00 AM (check-in opens at 9:45 AM)
📍 Galilee Ministries, 3601 Central Avenue
✨ RSVP by Friday, October 9 at bit.ly/ThePowerof11
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A Special Thank You to Food Lion 💛
We're grateful to Food Lion for supporting the Power of 11 breakfast with a $400 gift card to purchase breakfast ingredients. Their generosity helps us set a welcoming table for everyone who comes to celebrate. Thank you, Food Lion, for being a neighbor to Galilee and East Charlotte!
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✋ Many Hands Make a Celebration
There's a lot to do in the days leading up to the breakfast, and on the day itself! Here's where you can lend a hand:
🌿 Outdoor Spruce-Up Days
⏰ 8:30 AM – Noon
Bring water, gloves, a hat, and sunscreen.
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🗓️ Saturday, October 10
Help us plant a pollinator garden, spread pine straw in the Meditation Garden, weed beds, trim shrubs, and tend the blueberry bushes. We'll also plant donated ferns, hostas, astilbes, Lenten roses, elderberry, and azaleas, and dig out holly roots in the Memorial Garden.
| 🎤 10 AM Presentation: Cover Cropping for Healthier Soil with Deb Jung, Certified Master Gardener | | |
🗓️ Saturday, October 17
Help us plant four crepe myrtles, plant around the Memorial Garden fountain, rework the Memorial Garden bed by the dogwood tree, plant ground cover in front of the new bench, and install edging along the gravel walk near the fig trees. We'll also harvest ripe figs for the Power of 11 Breakfast! 🌱
| 🎤 10 AM Presentation: Onions and Garlic: Winter-Hardy Crops for Early Summer Harvests with Jen Hilzinger, Certified Master Gardener | | Weeding beds and planting donated plants | | Refresh pine straw in Meditation Garden | | Plant pollinator garden in front of the stained glass window | | |
🍳 Food Preparation Mornings
⏰ 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
🗓️ Monday, October 19 🗓️ Tuesday, October 20
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Neighbors Caring for Neighbors
Lydia's Pantry
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From January through August 2025, Lydia's Pantry served about 320 neighbors. During those same months in 2026, that number grew to roughly 2,330 — more than seven times as many people!
That growth tells two stories. More families in East Charlotte are looking for support, and more of you are showing up to meet that need. Every bag that goes out the door is filled with your generosity. Thank you. 🙏
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Help keep our shelves stocked!
These items go into every bag, so we always need them!
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- shelf stable milk
- peanut butter
- soup
- canned pasta
- canned vegetables
- fruit cups
| | | | Reminders: |
| | 🚫 Avoid glass containers if possible | ⏰ Drop off Monday–Thursday, 10 AM – 4 PM | | ✨ Pop-top cans are especially helpful | 📦 Ship to: 3601 Central Avenue, 28205 | | | 💛🙏 Every donation to the pantry is an act of shared abundance. 💛🙏 | | Thanks to Christ Church ECW for their generous donation! | | Thanks to Katherine Everett for her donation! | | |
2,330 🤲
People Served by Lydia's Pantry
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860 🍞
Loaves of Italian Bread
Baked and Distributed
Between March – Aug 31, 2026
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660 🍲
Quarts of Soup in 10 Delicious Varieties Made and Distributed
Between March – Aug 31, 2026
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4,250 ⏱️
Volunteer Hours Logged
Between January – August 2026
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$144,500 💵
Estimated Economic Value
of Time Contributed by Volunteers
4,250 hours x $34/hour = $144,500
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2,400 👶
Diapers Distributed
Between July – Aug 31, 2026
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Annual Winter Coat Drive
Monday, November 9 – Monday, November 30
| | As the weather turns colder, we're gathering warmth to share with our neighbors. Each year, this community fills Galilee with coats, gloves, socks, and scarves, and each year we're amazed by your generosity. | | | | |
🗓️ Drive: Monday, November 9 – Monday, November 30
🎁 Coat Giveaway: Tuesday, December 8
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What we're collecting:
Clean, new, or gently used coats, gloves, socks, and scarves for men, women, and children
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⏰ Drop-off: Monday–Thursday, 10 AM – 4 PM
📍 Galilee, 3601 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
| | Thank you for wrapping East Charlotte in warmth this season. 💛🙏 | | |
Abundance at the Table
Food is Love
| | Thanks to members of the St. Mary's Guild at St. Peter's Episcopal Church for hosting the September lunch. Around 90 people attended! | | Neighbors gather for a meal and conversation at September Food is Love Community Lunch | | |
Next Food is Love Community Lunch
🌟 Host: St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, October 27 (4th Tues.)
⏰ 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
📍 Galilee Flag Hall
✨ FREE: Donations are appreciated but not expected! 💛🙏
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2026 Community Lunch Schedule
🗓️ Third Tuesdays
⏰ 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
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- November 17 Christ Church Outreach & Mission Commission
- December 15 Hosted by St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Click image to print schedule.
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Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Events
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You're Invited
Power of 11: Abundance in Action Breakfast
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🗓️ Wednesday, October 21
⏰ Check in opens at 9:45 AM
⏰ Program: 10 AM - 11 AM
📍 Galilee Ministries, 3601 Central Ave.
| RSVP by October 9th bit.ly/ThePowerof11 | | | | |
Food is Love
Community Lunch
Save the Date
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🗓️ Tuesday, October 27
(4th Tues.)
🌟 Host: St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
⏰ 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
📍 Galilee Flag Hall
✨ FREE - Donations are appreciated but not expected! 💛🙏
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Email The Reverend Deacon Emily Parker at EDGalileeEast@gmail.com
if you would like to help set up before or clean up after the luncheon.
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Annual Winter Coat Drive
Monday, Nov. 9 – Monday, Nov. 30
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⏰ Drop-off: Mon–Thurs, 10 AM – 4 PM
📍 Galilee, 3601 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
🎁 Coat Giveaway: Tuesday, December 8
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What we're collecting:
Clean, new, or gently used coats, gloves, socks, and scarves for men, women, and children
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Save the Date: Mecklenburg Interfaith Friendsgiving 2026
A Celebration of Culture, Creativity, and Community
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🗓️ Thursday, November 19
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Myers Park Covenant Church
| Sliding scale tickets ($5–$25, no one turned away for lack of funds). | | | | Eleven years in, the abundance at Galilee still comes from the same place it always has: people who show up. Thank you for every can dropped off, every seat filled at the table, and every hand that helps us celebrate what's next. | |
Stay Connected!
Be the first to know about our events, updates, and initiatives by following us
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Our Mission is to build a stronger East Charlotte community by welcoming,
connecting, and empowering collaborations in a space of belonging.
| | We envision an East Charlotte community where all people are rooted in connection, celebrate justice, radiate joy, are filled with abundance, and walk in the way of love. | | |
Galilee Ministries is a special mission
of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. All are welcome!
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