Church helping more through food pantry, takeout meals
IMLAY CITY — The spirit of Thanksgiving is on full display this week at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
St. Paul’s kitchen staff and volunteers are accustomed to providing wholesome meals for local individuals and families and this year their “Food For Families” program will be serving up roast beef dinners, with mashed potatoes and gravy, a vegetable and all the fixin’s.
Food For Families Coordinator Wes Davis said volunteers are anxious to resume providing meals to people in need or who are experiencing financial hardship.
Davis said the impact of the coronavirus seriously impacted the church’s ability to meet the needs of everyone.
Now that it appears the worst is over, Davis is hopeful that customers will return in large numbers.
“I think the word is starting to get out that we’ve reopened,” he said. “We’ve noticed that more people are coming for the food pantry items, and for our meals to go.”
He noted that the prepared meals are free to the public. However, donations will be accepted from those who can afford to pay.
St. Paul’s volunteer Kay Hendricksen fills the cooler with milk, eggs, butter, ice cream and other perishables. The cooler was recently donated to the church by Imlay City farmer Kip Siegler.
Along with the food pantry and ‘meals to go’ program, Davis said the church often has a limited supply of milk and dairy items in its new cooler.
He credited Imlay City farmer Kip Siegler with donating the much-needed cooler to the church.
Christmas boxes
Looking ahead, it won’t be long before St. Paul’s volunteers begin packing and distributing about 40 Christmas food boxes to local families.
Each food basket will include a ham and sufficient food supply for a full family to enjoy on Christmas Day.
Davis thanked Pastor Tim and Trinity Baptist Church of Imlay City for their support of the Christmas basket program.
He reminded that St. Paul’s relies on the support and participation of many others to accomplish its goals.
“It takes a lot of people collaborating together for the greater community,” said Davis. “We all work as a team.”
Pantry hours
St. Paul’s food pantry is currently open only on Mondays from 3:45-5:30 p.m.
Davis hopes that by early January of 2022, the church can start opening on Wednesdays again.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church is located at 200 N. Cedar St. in Imlay City.
For information or to make a donation, call the church office at 810- 724-1200.
