One sign of systemic poverty is food insecurity. Although our East Liberty neighborhood is considered a food oasis—a community where there are numerous food stores and opportunities to secure needed nutrition—hunger and food instability is still a daily reality for some of our neighbors.
ELPC, you have responded to the needs of our shared community once again. Following our Drive-by Stewardship and Fall Food Drive Sunday, a van load of non-perishable food items was donated to EECM to assist our neighbors who are food insecure. Thank you!
Each year, the ELPC Board of Deacons provide gift cards to ELPC and community families who need assistance to be financially able to celebrate Thanksgiving. This year was no different. Again, thanks to the generosity of ELPC members. Your faithfulness allowed us to ensure that 71 families received gifts cards to assist with their Thanksgiving dinners. Families were referred from ELPC ministries—including our Christian Education, Youth and Young Adult, Hope Academy, and Mission Ministries—and partner organizations—such as Casa San José and the Neighborhood Family Support Center.
Although these ministry food programs do not address the systemic nature of poverty, feeding our neighbors helps to mitigate and address their immediate need. Jesus said it best…as much as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.
Thank you, ELPC.