Foodlink '24 - Feeding Our Neighbors

Volunteers Make Big Impact Feeding Our Neighbors

For nine months in 2024, our church hosted distributions of free food to our neighbors in the Bergen community and surrounding towns. These one-afternoon monthly distributions consistently drew representatives from between 150 and 200 families. Our deacons collected food for families who had shut-ins, and special deliveries were made to the senior housing complex Hidden Meadows.

When all who received food were totaled for the nine months, the figures were staggering: 1,579 families. These families consisted of 1,295 children, 2,214 adults and 1,478 senior citizens for a grand total of 6,566 persons receiving the food assistance.

Approximately 40 volunteers, most from our church family, assist at each distribution in our church parking lot in all kinds of temperatures from March through November. God consistently smiled on us, so that all nine “Foodlink Thursdays” were precipitation-free.

Our volunteers span a wide range of ages, from 7 years old to one couple in their 90s. There is a job for everyone interested in helping. Thanks to all who have volunteered.

All of the food distributed comes from Foodlink, based in Rochester and serving a 10-county region.

Nothing goes to waste at our food distributions. For “leftover” food that is not taken by families who come to the distribution site, representatives of local food pantries are contacted who send their volunteers to take the food for distribution from the pantries.

We take a break in December, January, and February when inclement weather could make the site unsafe for clients and volunteers. We will resume distributions on March 20, 2025.

Jesus clearly prioritizes food. Many of the Bible stories of his encounters with people take place around meals. Plus, there are a couple of accounts of food miraculously provided to more than 5,000. God also miraculously provided food for the people of Israel as they traveled in the desert from Egypt, sending manna and quails for them to eat.

We are blessed to be able to share food each month with our neighbors through this Foodlink pop-up pantry.