Dear One's of St. C's, 

The Saint Columba's Food Bank provides not only food, but also toilet paper, soap, and toothpaste, to those who walk in our doors, and we have enough supplies for Mother Meghan to give to people seeking help outside our regular hours of Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. We serve between five and fifteen families a week. In 2023 the food bank served a diverse community, including young families seeking food and diapers, individuals who cook and care for their older parents, and people living on limited incomes. 

Staffing and supporting the food bank is no small task, requiring not only regular volunteers who run the food bank itself, but also a dedicated group of shoppers that makes regular trips to purchase the food and other supplies we provide to visitors. Our shoppers include Kevin and Tracy Coleman, Pam Gibbons, Shelley Skinner, Susan Wilkes, and me. Susan Wilkes, Dave Phillips, Richard Burgess, Rod Blalock, Whitney Devine and myself make up the Wednesday team that greets and supplies visitors.

As I wrote this report, I imagined what it would be like to depend on a local food bank or pantry to feed myself or my family. I do most of the shopping in our household, only rarely giving much thought to whether we can afford to purchase food that we enjoy. I doubt that the visitors we serve at our weekly food bank could say the same.

While we have done extraordinary work supporting those in need in our community, the food bank faces considerable challenges. The cost of food has risen considerably in the last few years, increasing the number of families and individuals who need our help. The price rise has also affected the church’s ability to supply the food and other items that is necessary to meet their needs. We spend $275 a week to purchase the basic supplies that we provide. We will need between $1100 and $1375 in funds monthly to maintain our current once-a-week service. The food bank is supported entirely by donations from members of Saint Columba's. 

Because of this strain on our resources, during February, March and April 2024, we will be open only on the first Wednesday of each month. We hope that this break will give the church community the time and space to determine our commitment to this ministry and whether we have the resources to maintain it. It is my hope that we can see our way through this challenge to maintain a ministry that has been part of our church's identity for many years.

Jane Hershman