Food Pantry

Mission Statement

As a community of disciples, we will provide supplemental nutritious food items in a Christian atmosphere to our neighbors experiencing food insecurity in the 32092 & 32095 zip code areas

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Background

The food pantry opened its doors in Oct 2013 to serve seven families.  Initially, only providing shelf stable foods in the form of canned goods and packaged dry goods, it has since grown in size and complexity of foods provided.  We currently serve 60 to 70 families a month with nonperishables, fresh produce (the freshest from our OLGC garden), frozen meat, bread, pastries and more.  Annually we distribute about 50,000 pounds of food with a local economic impact of over $90,000.  To further our support of the local community, in Sep 2015 we began distributing weekend food packs to two local elementary schools to ensure 20 food insecure children would not go hungry over the weekend.

Visiting with our customers, we have heard what is important to them – family, children and grandchildren – and what concerns them – utility bills, food, ability to provide for family, to give them a respected life style, to give them a chance for brighter future – the same things important to most of us.  We have shared beautiful smiles and sorrowful tears with many of our families.  But we always see their gratitude for being treated as beautiful Children of God

Customer Choice Pantry

Due to the COVID pandemic, we operated our food pantry as a drive up operation for over two years.  In March 2022, we determined it was safe to bring our pantry back inside.  We took this opportunity to convert to a Customer Choice Pantry where our customers choose the items they want rather than receiving a pre packed bag.

Customers still receive the same nutritious nonperishable items, fresh produce, frozen meat, breads and pastries as they have in the past while being able to choose their preferences.

The response has been truly heartwarming – our customers love the new pantry concept.  Some describe it as more of a shopping experience than a food pick up.

What can you do to help?

Donate food

• We ask for specific food to pack our bags – food that has been chosen for its nutritional value
• Space in our bags is limited so pleasetry to conform to the items and sizes requested
• Check this page or the bulletin for the most needed food
  • Please check expiration dates
  • Please no glass
• Want to make a large donation? Use this shopping list.
  • OLGC Food Pantry Shopping List

Consider a monetary donation in addition to or in lieu of a food donation.

• Make checks payable to OLGC and note Food Pantry in the memo.

Host a neighborhood food drive

Volunteer! We need more than 200 volunteer hours per month to open the food pantry for four hours!