As we head into the holiday season, many families are facing uncertainty, especially food insecurity.
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Through our Board of Missions, we are working with our local mission partners to help address the recent surge in food and housing insecurity need, as well continuing to address a broad array of community needs at this time. Please see ways you can help below.
Fill the Green Grocery Cart and the First Sunday Food Share
Food donations are collected for the South Richmond Baptist Center, Oregon Hill, and the Church Hill Wellness Center the first Sunday of every month.
On November 2, a record amount of donations was received. Thank you! The next First Sunday Food Share will be on December 7, but you can drop off food donations in shopping cart at the Lower Commons entrance to the church at any time. Or you may contact Carol Cruickshanks for a pickup from your home.
Questions about Baptist Centers Food Pantries? Contact Carol Cruickshanks.
Suggested Shopping List:
- Cans of Vegetables (peas, green beans, corn)
- Cans of Fruit
- Cans of Soup
- Cans of Meat: small cans of tuna, chicken
- Cans of Pork and Beans or other Beans
- Canned Entrées (example: Spaghettios and ravioli)
- Boxed Macaroni and Cheese
- Packages of Powdered Milk
- Boxes of Cereal
- Boxes of Instant Oatmeal (individual packs)
- Rice
- Dry Pasta
- Peanut butter
- Tomato Sauce
- Box of Sugar
Give to the Thanksgiving Offering and Welborne Community Food Panty
We also have a relationship to support the Welborne UMC Community Food Pantry. You may drop off donations of their specified items directly to Welborne: 9:30-11:00 a.m. on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. If more convenient, you may drop off those bags of food on First Sunday Food Share, but please mark those bags with a LARGE W since they have specific food requests for Welborne. You can check Welborne’s Facebook for details and updates.
During November, we are encouraged to donate to the annual Thanksgiving Offering. This year, donations from members and friends of River Road Church will be sent to support the Welborne Food Pantry. Welborne has seen a large influx of families in need of assistance. Donations to the Thanksgiving Offering can be made by mailing a check with “Thanksgiving Offering” in the memo, using the designated envelopes in the Sanctuary pews, or by following the Give Online link above.
Questions about Welborne Food Pantry? Contact Letty Wood.
Give to the Fellowship Fund
Food insecurity leads to dilemmas about utility and rent payments. Your donation will allow ACTS (Area Congregations Together in Service) to help families who fall behind with rent and utility bills. At ACTS, their mission is to prevent homelessness by providing financial support and vital community resources to our neighbors in crisis.
What else can you do? If you know anyone who is a landlord locally, ACTS asks that we please call on them to ask for them to be compassionate and patient during this time when families are struggling.
Additionally, quarterly donations from the Fellowship Fund are sent to Crossover Ministries to support their work, which is also addressing broader needs among those they serve.
Donations to our Fellowship Fund can be made by mailing a check with “Fellowship Fund” in the memo, using the designated envelopes in the Sanctuary pews, or by following the Give Online link above.
Questions about the Fellowship Fund? Contact Cathy Whitty.
Looking for more ways to help
There are a number of other ongoing efforts administered through the Board of Missions addressing an array of needs in our community. On the Get Involved page, you can see the missions calendar and current opportunities. If there is a specific area or need that you would like more information on, please contact the church office and they will connect you with a member of the Board of Missions.