“I need help with my drug and alcohol addiction.” “Keep me in your prayers for employment opportunities.”
“Pray that I get a new place our apartment is up for foreclosure and we have to move. I have 7 children and we are struggling to make ends meet. Thanks for the food because it’s pretty hard right now.”
The Daily Bread Food Pantry continues to serve those most in need in our community. Beginning in January 2010 we have served on average 280 families (which includes 925 individuals) per month. We ask our food pantry friends if they have a prayer request and most of them do (opening to this section). Through our reporting system we are able to easily follow up on those requests with folks as they return to the pantry in the following months. This has enabled us to serve some of these friends in very special and meaningful ways and to connect them with other programs here at Circle Urban Ministries.
Sheena came to the Daily Bread Food Pantry because she needed food for herself and her kids. In passing she mentioned she also really needed some help with transportation. Alicia, the Pantry program manager, said “we can help you with that”. In pursuing the need further, Alicia learned that Sheena has a job that covers the rent and food stamps cover the food. She is also in school to become a patient care technician, but her hours at work had been cut and she didn’t have the money to get back and forth to school. Her boyfriend, who she didn’t want to be involved with any longer, held their relationship over her head saying, “stay with me and I’ll take care of your transportation for school”.
Sheena knew she should move on, but couldn’t see her way free because she loved school and was doing so well with it. Because of encouragement from her mother and others, Sheena broke from the man and had managed to beg transportation for a few days, but had run out of options when she came to the pantry. She had just about decided to drop out of school over her transportation issue. When Sheena learned that we could provide transportation for a month by providing a CTA pass she was elated. She said, “Mamma told me God would come through if I did what was right”. Within that month Sheena had her hours increased at work enough to cover the ongoing travel expenses, and continues to thrive in school.
It’s amazing to realize that sometimes $80 can make the difference between despair and hope and success.
You can be involved in the lives our friends who come to the food pantry. Every week we send out the prayer requests we have received and you can be actively involved in praying for them. Simply click on the Contact Us link in the top menu bar and be sure to check Pantry Prayer in the option boxes. Thank you! |
