Food Pantry Fills God’s Call During the Shutdown

The new year of 2019 opened in the midst of a Government Shutdown.  Across the country, hundreds of Thousands of workers are on furlough.  But you don’t have to look far to see the impact of this problem; it has hit our own community.  Several furloughed workers are part of our PUMC family, and many others live in our town.  These hard working people are scraping to make ends meet until their paychecks return. 

The Pitman Food Pantry is as important during these times as ever.

“How does God’s love abide in anyone who has worldly goods, sees a brother or sister in need,
and yet refuses to help?”

1 John 3:17

 The Pitman Pantry, an ecumenical ministry of five local churches, provides groceries to food insecure folks in the Pitman area. Most of these folks live in Pitman, but no one is ever turned away. The pantry is located at the First Baptist Church on Broadway.

Open during the Shut Down…

Recently, the pantry has been reaching out to furloughed federal government workers, offering to provide them with food during the government shut down.  The government might be closed and people are at home, but the day to day needs continue.  Each of the five church congregations continue to pull together to help families make ends meet during difficult times.  People in these churches continually donate food, money, and volunteer time to the Pitman Pantry.

The Pitman Pantry also continues to receive food from the Food Bank of South Jersey, which is a tremendous help. However, food items available from them varies greatly, so some basic food items such as cereal, jelly, and tuna must be purchased. The Pantry is also happy to receive donations of paper products, and personal care items, such as toothpaste, soap, and shampoo, which can not be purchased with food stamps!  

Based on a Caring Community…

The Pitman Pantry is blessed to be located in a caring community. Many professional groups, schools, service organizations, our Boy Scout troops, and the Post Office, all continue to donate to the Pantry. We are grateful to our congregations, and to our community for their continuous support.

Many volunteers are required each week to inventory, order, shop, pack , and distribute food. The Pitman Pantry is blessed to have dedicated volunteers from each church congregation who give countless hours of their time to support this vital local ministry. They welcome each person with a smile, reflecting God’s love; and strive to give them any available food that they might want or need. Note that the Pitman Pantry is not heated or airconditioned.

The volunteers of the Pitman Pantry thank each of you who have supported God’s work here in any way. We are truly blessed!
Most of all, we ask that you continue to pray for this local ecumenical ministry, that makes such a positive difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors in Pitman.

The Pantry is Here for Everyone!

Jesus is our Good Shepherd; our God constantly watches over us…

GOD, my shepherd!  I don’t need a thing.
 You have bedded me down in lush meadows,  you find me quiet pools to drink from.

Psalm 23:1-2 (From The Message)

 

I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations.  Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. 

You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.'”

Ezekiel 34:29-31 (From the New International Version)

God called us to share our resources… and our shortages.  We’re wired for community and we all fill roles when we serve and when we need to be served.  Most of this post has dealt with the “serving” side of things, but many of us find ourselves on the “need to be served” side.  Nobody likes to be in need, but it is part of God’s community that we turn to Him and to our community when we are in those situations.

If you find yourself in need of assistance, the Pitman Food Pantry is here for you.   If you are struggling to make ends meet, please come by; you’ll find a warm caring staff who would love to help out.

• WHERE:   The pantry is located in the back of the First Baptist Church in Pitman.  The church is located on North Broadway, just across the street from the post office.  Click Here for directions.

• WHEN:  Tuesdays, 6-7 PM   Wednesdays, 4-5 PM, and Thursdays, 12-1 PM

• HOW OFTEN:  You can come once per week (ID required)

Further information about the pantry is posted on the Baptist Church’s website.

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To read more about local missions:    Local Ministries