With CHANGE comes CHALLENGE, and parishioners of St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Florida, met the challenge when COVID arose and a change in local needs presented itself. A plan was developed to meet the community’s food needs through a program named FOOD DROP.
St. James’ Rita Clements made contact with the local Leesburg Food Bank. On the third Wednesday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., a crew of four to five people wearing masks and comfortable attire got ready to meet the cars and trucks of parishioners in the “drive-through” with their bags of food and many times, monetary donations. The bounty was transferred from the cars’ occupants and placed in the opened Leesburg Food Bank Truck, which was parked in a visible place in front of the church. Friendly exchanges were made, and so each day began. At noon, closing time, a driver from the food bank loaded his bicycle into the truck and drove back to the food bank to prepare for the next month.
Participation has gone far beyond our expectations. The following is one of the monthly blurbs that goes out after each of the monthly Food Drop “happenings.”
The food bank truck was parked in front of the church awaiting the January 2021 monthly Food Drop. The volunteers were ready to enact yet another blessing when our St. James parishioners drove by and contributed food and monetary donations for those in our community.
The DNA of JOY is thankfulness.
Your generosity of sharing demonstrates
A little less of you A little less of me And a little more of US
JANUARY 2021 FOOD DROP COLLECTED:
1,228 pounds of food
$2539.00
DECEMBER 2021 FOOD DROP YEARLY TOTAL:
22,119 pounds of food
$28,182.00
Once again, thank you for your incredible generosity toward our community and this project. God’s blessings to you and stay safe.