St. Philip's Lutheran Church

4501 Kirkwood Highway

Wilmington, DE  19808

(302)998-0171

stphilipswilmington@yahoo.com

Home Directions Christian Education Programs News/Photos Calendar of Events ELCA DE - MD Synod Staff & Officers Contact Us     Praise be to God

 

 

 Produce Distribution
     

The produce distribution at St. Philips Lutheran Church has been a great benefit to thousands of clients for several years.  The number of clients (now friends) has almost doubled from the first months of operation.

Distribution takes place inside the social hall on the first and third Mondays of each month.

The first clients arrive before 8:00a.m. and church volunteers begin to arrive at 7:45a.m.  Bread that has been donated by a local eatery is sorted into smaller bags.  On first Monday of the month, clothing, delivered from the Clothing Bank of Delaware, is put out onto 6 round tables in the social hall.  At approximately 8:30a.m. the clients come in and sign the two log sheets (one is for clothing the other for produce).  Our friends are always offered cookies and something to drink while they wait for the food truck; at this time, on the first Monday, they can also go through seasonal clothes.  The FoodBank of Delaware truck is scheduled to arrive at 9:30a.m.  In reality it can  arrive anywhere between 9:30a.m to 11:00a.m., or not at all.  If the FoodBank truck does not show up, the volunteers spring into action by going to our food pantry and seeing what items we have enough of so each family, (between 42 and 63 families), can each receive the same items.  If the right number of items is available we pack up for each family: a can of tuna, some pasta and sauce, jelly & peanut butter and some canned soup.  After waiting for hours we do not want our friends to leave God’s House empty handed.  If the produce truck does arrive we never know until the truck door is opened what we will be receiving.  It could be each family will only receive a 50-pound bag of potatoes, or the truck can be filled with strawberries, oranges, apples, green beans, bags of salad, and other fruits and vegetables.   We will only supplement from our own pantry when we think the items received from the truck are not enough. We would not ask a friend who comes to our home why they are hungry, or need a jacket, or a blanket. So we do not ask our newest friends why they need this food or clothing, they are not screened as to where they live, some walk, while others arrive by bus.  It is our pleasure and purpose to serve these brothers and sisters in Christ.

The “Grocery Club”, takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. It is made up of individuals that have met the low-income qualifications and includes some of the same family’s we give free produce to.  Again, volunteer’s drive to the FoodBank of Delaware and purchase pre ordered food items at a great discount. The items are brought back to the church where more volunteers sort and pack the food into 47 boxes.  Between 3:00PM and 5:00PM families arrive, show identification, and then, at no cost to them, leave with a large box of food.

 

 

                                                     2006 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

  • 110 30-gallon bags of clothing were distributed to 271 clients

  • 80 bags of Special order fall and winter clothing were distributed to 31 families (109Clients).

  • 989 families received free produce. A sample of what we received during different   weeks include; bananas, egg plant and cauliflower; another week we received water melon, avocados, egg plant, and a bottle of juice; one week all we received was enough to give each family a 50 pound bag of potatoes, and; on several occasions the food distribution truck was a  “no show”.  During those times we supplemented with food from our own pantry.

  • 30 families on average each month are given boxes of food with between 8 and 18 items at the “Grocery Club”, at an average cost to our church of only $6.33 a family?

  • 50 hams were given to the clients before Easter.

  • 70 school kits were prepared and handed out prior to the start of school.

  • 80 turkeys – enough to give every client a turkey before Thanksgiving.

  • 150 gifts were raffled off before Christmas – enough that each family took home at least 2 gifts.

 

Send mail to St. Philips Web Master  with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 08/18/09