Lorraine* moves down the aisle of the Calvary Care food pantry, a bright green stripe on the floor marking her way. She adds bottled water to her cart, a box of cereal, some peanut butter, and a can of diced tomatoes. Lorraine visits the food pantry nearly every Wednesday afternoon and especially appreciates the availability of paper products, cleaning supplies, and toiletries as prices have recently escalated.
This community outreach from Calvary Church has been a lifesaver for some families, especially as the past several years have been increasingly difficult economically. Lorraine’s sentiment is repeated by multiple other clients: “This has been such a blessing. I wish I would have found out about Calvary Care sooner.”
Jim Schmucker has co-led the Calvary Care efforts for the past four years, alongside Deb Fisher, who has served the food pantry for decades. Jim and Deb also work with more than 50 dedicated volunteers who help to make the ministry run smoothly. Together, they track inventory, order supplies, maintain relationships with other local organizations such as Blessings of Hope, Midwest Food Bank, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and many more. Jim has seen the need for the food pantry only increase.
In August 2023 alone, for example, he reported that the food pantry served more than 100 households that made at least one visit throughout the month. This figure has climbed steadily since a year ago, when 77 households relied on the food pantry in a one-month span in August 2022. Also this August, more than 20,000 pounds of food made its way to the pantry through a variety of sources, such as retail purchases, donations, or regional food banks and ministries.
For the volunteers who greet clients, stock shelves, and help take boxes and bags to cars, dignity is at the forefront. As one volunteer puts additional crackers, cookies, and chips on shelves, she’s careful to organize them intentionally, making them easily accessible and pulling items front and center. “I want to make sure that clients know we care about them and value them,” she says. “It can be hard to take the first step to even visit a food pantry, so their dignity is important to me.”
Another client, Ruth*, appreciates the friendliness of volunteers, how her questions are always answered, and that she is able to pick up items for her 85-year-old neighbor. “At first, I was embarrassed to be here,” she said, “but everyone is always so pleasant, and I love picking out fresh fruit and vegetables.” As she picked up ingredients to prepare pork chops and potatoes for that evening’s dinner, Ruth shared that she was forced to cut her work hours due to health concerns, and that she and her husband “live off what we get here.”
While the Calvary Care staff and volunteers get to know the families on a personal level, the need for food and clothing around the county, state, and nation is common. According to Feeding America, 34 million people in the United States are food insecure—including nine million children. Forty-nine million people turned to food programs in 2022, and 100% of U.S. counties have food insecurity. New families contact Calvary Care about emergency visits, or to begin the application process for services, nearly every week.
In addition to offering food and household supplies, Calvary Care provides a clothing bank, which is housed opposite the food pantry on the lower level of the church near the gymnasium. In August, 53 families made 106 visits to the clothing bank, a significant jump from earlier in the summer due to the back-to-school season and changing temperatures.
At the core of tangible items like groceries and clothing, however, is the commitment to show Jesus’ love and fulfill His commands by meeting the basic needs of others. Several months ago, the food pantry added a new component to the process, where clients are greeted by volunteers as they wait to enter the aisles.
Calvary attenders, Bruce and Janet Chambers, engage with clients in the hosting section, getting to know people more personally, providing information about the church and ministries – such as support groups and counseling – and ultimately, opening doors to share the gospel. Although some clients do attend Calvary services and become involved in the church’s various ministries, church attendance is not a requirement to visit the food pantry or clothing bank. An application process ensures that families are within the required geographic proximity to the church and within income requirements.
“The food brings people in, but the reason we do this is to share and spread the love of Christ,” Bruce said. “The food doesn’t do that, but as we get to know them by name, we have a chance to do much more.”
Janet, who grew up in a missionary family in Argentina, speaks fluent Spanish and has not only been able to help Spanish-speaking clients maneuver the process of paperwork, food, and clothing but has also directed several young families to local English as a second language classes.
Week after week, Jim continues to marvel at God’s work through Calvary Care’s food pantry and clothing bank. In reference to Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14:15-20, he said, “Just like the little boy’s loaves and fish, we can supply a few bags of groceries and a box of cleaning supplies, but what the Lord is able to do with that is nothing short of miraculous.”
Interested in being involved in Calvary Care?
Volunteer positions are available in both the food and clothing bank, or you can give through direct support or Calvary’s Benevolent Fund.
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