Source for fresh produce

Just found out about this service and tried it last week. For $15, I got a head of green leaf lettuce, a head of cabbage, a bag of carrots (regular), a bag of apples (5 lb?), bunch of bananas, white grapes, some potatoes, Anjou pears, corn on the cobb, and a couple of onions. To be honest, I couldn't fit it all in my fridge. You can order weekly, bi-weekly, or as needed. There's a $10 fee to join but it pays for your "basket." Shelly Browne also tried it out and told them about our food pantry. They donated the leftovers and we had fresh cabbage and potatos to give out Saturday! Here's the info if you want to check it out.

Pickup needed for food from Fresh market Dunwoody

We need someone able to pick up fresh fruit and bread from Fresh Market in Dunwoody near 285 on Fridays. Time is somewhat flexible but we need to do it regularly, some others may be able to take turns. If we can't find someone to do it, the food will go to another organization, so call Mary Vollzer if you think you can pick up around noontime on Fridays! 678-5963032.
Shelly Browne

Pasta e Fagioli

16 oz box pasta shells
1 lb ground beef
2 t minced garlic
15 oz can mixed vegetables
15 oz can kidney beans, undrained
15 oz can great northern beans
2-15 oz cans tomato sauce
10 oz can beef broth
1 tbsp vinegar
2 tsp salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning

Cook pasta as directed. Set aside.
Coat a soup pot with cooking spray and saute beef and garlic. drain Add remaining ingredients, including pasta. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Would you like to be involved in our food pantry ministry, but not sure how? We would love to be able to provide our clients with the makings of a nutritious meal, but with budget constraints and constant change of inventory at the Atlanta Community Food Bank this is not always possible. Would you be willing to donate a specific type of non-perishable? Every other week we are going to send a list of items from a different recipe. While we need a large quantity of each item, even the smallest donations can help. You could purchase one of each item or many from one category. Thank you so much for allowing us to continue to help those in need in our community. We are truly following Jesus' example when we choose to feed the poor. Thank you.

Please put all donations in the blue receptacle in the lobby between today and October 16.

15 oz can great northern beans (we need 75)
15 oz can tomato sauce (we need 150)
10 oz can beef broth (we need 75)
Containers of Italian seasoning (any size)

Thank you again!

Praise report and a request

70 families were served today and we had food left over! One of our prayer warriors, Julie, heard from one of our regular clients, Michelle, that she had received prayer for a job at the last food distribution and that God had provided a job for her. Praise the Lord!

We're looking for recipes or meal ideas that can be made entirely from non-perishable ingredients. If you have any, please post here! thanks! Kelleigh

Feed a family for .60 a day?

Looking for people who want to help get this project off the ground. We can make baggies of lentils, dried onions and spices which create a whole meal when added to water, rice and tomatoes. Very inexpensive, see extensive article on my earlier post. Shelly

Kmart super doubles deals

Not sure if our KMart is doubling coupons but these are good deals nontheless.

Just wanted to share with you guys the two transactions that I did this evening at Kmart. I wanted to do the double dipping Holiday/Spend $50 catalina promotions. I also wanted to turn around and get some cheap toilet paper while there was a promotion for it. This is what I did:

$12 six boxes of 15 ct Gallon size Ziploc Holiday Bags
$9.98 two Glade Holiday Reed infusers
$4.49 one Tide Stain release 10 ct
$19.99 one box of Huggies diapers
$10 four 2 oz Glade candle
$5 two Pledge wipes packs
=$61.46 subtotal before taxes
-$5 when I used $5/50 kmart coupon
-$6 two $1.50/2 Ziploc printable coupons doubled
-$4 two B2G1 Ziploc tearpad coupons
-$8 two $2/1 Glade Reed infuser coupons from Kmart coupon booklet doubled
-$10 four free glade candle coupons
-$4 two Pledge printable coupons doubled
-$2 Tide release coupon doubled
-$2 Tide Stain release discount at register
-$19.99 FREE box of Huggies diaper coupon I had
= -$0.47 plus tax out of pocket and got one $12 and one $5 catalinas.

THEN I had to get some Charmin while it’s cheap and I had good coupons for it:

$26.97 when I bought three big packs of Charmin
$4.49 Tide Stain release
= $31.46 subtotal before taxes
-$6 three $1/1 Any Charmin homemailer coupons (from samples)
-$2 Tide release coupon doubled
-$2 Tide Stain release discount at register
-$12 coupon from previous transaction
=$9.96 plus tax out of pocket and got another $5 catalina off my next purchase.

So, I spent $10.43 plus tax out of pocket and still have $10 in catalinas to use. The best part is that I bought our favorite toilet paper (54 big rolls!) for pretty much FREE!

this is from a coupons clipper blog . . .
Shelly

High tech tips for lowering grocery bill

Found here on Tesh.com.

Stephanie Nelson

The "Coupon Mom" on Clark Howard today. Click here for article/video. “You know, your results are going to vary based on how scientific you are about following the list, but here’s my challenge for you – I want you to beat Stephanie,” said Clark. “If you can do that, you’re going to know you’re an accomplished shopper.”

Interesting article on Gwinnett food pantry

As the Israelites wandered in the desert after escaping slavery, the Bible says they prayed for food and God delivered manna from heaven.Daily, Laura Drake prays for manna for heaven, so she and volunteers at the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry can feed the hungry in Snellville, Grayson and Loganville."The need is just so incredible," Drake said, adding that the group ran out of green beans - usually the most abundant canned food - a few weeks ago. "Every day before we open up, we have people waiting in line. ... But (God) always makes a way for us. ... We haven't had to turn anyone away." Read the full article here.

Prayer Request for Toby, food pantry regular, who has lung cancer and supports a family of 7.

78 families came for food on Saturday, September 5. We were blessed with frozen blueberries! and 3 glucometers that went to diabetic clients.

Money Saving Websites

Recently came upon these two awesome money saving websites. Check 'em out!!

Living As Mom - Defining Life's Deals


AJC - Atlanta Bargain Hunter

Katie Hurley's Couponing Tips

Thank you Katie for sharing your tips and for being so faithful with donations to the food pantry!

Grocery Savings 101

A. MENU PLANNING
1. Make a meals master list
2. Plan by the week, 2 weeks, or month
3. Shop by the week! Do not cheat! Include staples, but only go ONE time per week, only buy what is on your list, do not take the kids (and eat before you go)!

B. SHOPPING
1. Meat - “loss leaders” and clearance/manager’s specials
2. BOGOs - Do I have to buy 2? Publix - no, Drugstores - yes
3. Stock up on items you usually purchase when they’re on sale!!

C. STORES AND THEIR POLICIES
1. Publix - doubles coupons .50 and below AND will stack their own coupons w/ manuf. cpns. AND will honor competitor cpns., AND has the “penny coupon” on Sundays and Mondays. Go to http://www.fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com/ for “match ups”
2. Kroger - doubles cpns. .50 and below AND you can use ecoupons there (these you can load onto your Kroger card online: http://www.pgesaver.com/, http://www.shortcuts.com/)
3. WalMart - doubles nothing, BUT will price match any advertised sale price (IMO not worth the hassle of going there!)
4. Ingle's - doubles 3 cpns. .50 or below with every $10 worth of merchandise purchased AND they are not friendly about it! (I'm not a big fan...)
5. RainChecks - Stores offer rainchecks for advertised sale items if that item is out of stock...get them!

D. DRUGSTORES/PRESCRIPTIONS
1. Rite Aid - Single Check Rebates: http://www.riteaid.com/ (registration required), http://www.iheartriteaid.com/ for “match ups”
2. CVS - Extra Care Bucks: http://www.cvs.com/ (registration required in store or online), http://www.iheartcvs.com/ for tons of info. and “match ups”
3. Transferring your Prescription - You can earn gift cards by doing this. Publix and CVS all accept the Rite Aid competitor coupons! Just keep track of where your Rx is and please use good judgement.

E. LET THE WEB DO THE WORK!
1. http://www.savingyourcents.blogspot.com/ -Lissa Miller, all deals in Cartersville!!
2. http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ - Crystal Paine, great overview of all sorts of savings, great explanations of beginning couponing and CVSing, “CVS 101”
3. http://www.couponmom.com/ - check out the “Grocery Deals By State” section (registration required)

F. I’M OVERWHELMED!! WHAT DO I DO NOW?!
Make a master list of favorite, inexpensive, easy meals
Plan one week of meals with accompanying grocery list (don’t forget staples like milk and bread)
Shop at Publix for items on your list and stock up on any current BOGO items you regularly use.
Begin collecting coupons - cut and file the ones you’ll use and all health & beauty items (if you plan to go to CVS and Rite Aid)
Begin to familiarize yourself with websites listed above (esp. http://www.savingyourcents.blogspot.com/ and http://www.moneysavingmom.com/)
When you feel ready, jump into CVS and Rite Aid. Be sure to read up on this first at the above websites! You are well on your way!
DON’T GIVE UP!! SET A TIME LIMIT OF 8-10 WEEKS AND REALLY SEE THE SAVINGS!!

135 Families served in August 2009

Shelly has started our own Cobb Vineyard garden in the back of the parking lot. I can't wait for her to post some pictures. Check it out next time you're at church.

One of the food pantry clients shared that she was able to pay off a $1300 utility debt and she credited it to coming to our church and receiving prayer. Praise the Lord! He is good!

Saw this one in my "Subaru" magazine

Share the Love Garden

details on Vineyard Boise gardens

Garden O’ Feedin'

The garden vision was started by a couple who saw a way to supplement the Pantry and Feeding God’s Children Ministries. That first year the garden produced $300 worth of veggies, which was enough to help supplement the Pantry with fresh tomatoes and peppers from August to October. Starting with only 4-6 raised beds the garden has grown every year to its current state of 12 garden boxes, 23 raised beds and 6 large mounds and a 4 row field. This is about 1/3 acre which last year produced 20,775.5 pounds of food. It is in production from May through November. The food produced was used to feed 1300 families in the Boise area for a total of 4108 total family members. This was no small task for 115 dedicated volunteers who harvest the night before the Pantry is open. The food is not sold but given in love to those that need it. We are also able to share produce with the Good Samaritan Home. The sight of fresh produce makes them smile as they remember their family gardens.

This year will be an awesome year at the garden. We have added another 1/3 acre with room for flowers as well. A new Greenhouse will also be put in to use here shortly. The sooner plants can be put in the garden the sooner we can start feeding people. Junior Master Gardner Classes will also be offered this year.

Volunteers are always

Boise Vineyard grow organic food for food pantry

> Lifestyle

Linking environmentalism, religion, and free food

Vineyard Boise, an evangelical church in Idaho, focuses on composting, companion planting and bible classes.

By PlentyMag.com

Tue, Mar 24 2009 at 11:33 AM EST

Read more: RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY

Here’s the first thing I like about Bill Meeker, head gardener at the Garden O’ Feedin’, which provides free, fresh, organic food for poor people all over the greater Boise, Idaho, area: When I ask him how his one-third acre of raised beds could possibly have produced 20,776 pounds of vegetables last year, he answers, “Well, God’s involved.”

Indeed. Meeker and 115 volunteers grow their crops on land that abuts Vineyard Boise, a church in aptly-named Boise suburb Garden City, Idaho. Vineyard Boise is evangelical in all the ways that freak out an increasingly secular world. Their long statement of faith (available online) is full of turns like, “We believe that the whole world is under the domination of Satan and that all people are sinners by nature and choice.”

But here’s the second thing I like about Bill Meeker: When other churches visit to ask about setting up their own gardens, he tells them the secret is “three crucial things — compost, compost, and compost.”

Parishioners now arrive at Vineyard Boise carrying table scraps. They collect lawn clippings, but “only if they didn’t use any chemicals on the lawn,” cautions Meeker. Volunteers turn, turn, turn the compost bins. Companion planting — sugar snap peas with radishes, herbs with tomatoes — is practiced. Bible school classes help with the harvests on Tuesday and Friday nights.

When those in need arrive each Wednesday and Saturday, they start at a tent with a regular food bank—stuff in cans and bags. Then they visit the free medical clinic. And then they stop at what’s informally known as a “benevolent farmers’ market for no-cost produce.” Exchanges aren’t always Sunday-school sweet. “You see a lot of people come in who aren’t very thankful. They want more or not what you have. But they’re God’s children, just like me,” Meeker says. “If you keep that in mind, it’s okay.”

Actually, it’s better than okay. This year the Garden O’ Feedin’ farmers are doubling the land under cultivation. Before long the church will have 5 acres yielding organic fruit and vegetables—and bearing witness not only to its faith, but to the possibilities for all kinds of people to get involved in the fight for a workable future. “We have several people who used to get food here, and now they come volunteer,” says Meeker.

These days, Vineyard Boise is a model of green Christianity. The pastor of the church, Tri Robinson, was an ecology major and a high school biology teacher who lived off the grid in the mountains of California. When he eventually became a pastor and took over the Boise evangelical congregation, he brought many of his old values with him. Thank heaven. “If the statistics are true and Christians do comprise one-third of the world’s population, then what would happen if more than 2 billion people became serious about upholding the value of environmental stewardship?” he asks.

We got some sense of the answer last year when many leading evangelicals signed on to a statement calling for federal action on climate change. It began to change the politics of the issue, to break down its left-right, Republican-Democrat stalemate. In fact, it’s hard to imagine ever managing to build the political momentum for change without the involvement of religious communities around the world. Overcoming vested economic interests will require a moral charge—and our churches and synagogues and mosques are the last institutions we have that can still posit an idea for human existence beyond “He who dies with the most toys wins.”

But that’s an abstraction. Churches offer something else: a physical location, with ground to plant. They can provide a place to start making real the commandment from Genesis to till the earth and the Gospel sanction to feed the hungry. Last year the Garden O’ Feedin’ alone grew 2,200 pounds of cantaloupe—how do you like them apples?

Story by Bill McKibben. Bill McKibben is a scholar in residence at Middlebury College, the author of a dozen books about the environment, and the cofounder of the current 350.org campaign, a global grassroots effort to fight climate change. This article originally appeared in "Plenty" in August 2008.

that's what I'm talking about!

Emergency preparedness

ON MY HEART By Marilyn Moll

Last week I touched on a topic near and dear to my heart, Preparedness during difficult times. Maybe a better word for "preparedness" would be good "old-fashioned" compassion and neighborliness. Here is an excerpt from last week's column:

"...We have been thinking we will all be called to depend on or teach some old-fashioned skills like bartering, gardening, food pantries and neighborliness as the means to survival... I actually believe God may be calling each of us individually, as families, and as the church corporately to address needs in ways the government "stimulus"package will never be able to meet."

Since last week, providentially, our pastor preached on the scriptures that admonish over and over, "What is the greatest commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength, and the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself." Who are your neighbors? - the needy.

Pastor Kinser developed the idea of our God being a God of compassion, that loving our neighbor will require a heart of compassion based on needs not worth. Compassion requires something of us, time, money, convenience but demonstrates our love for God when we reach out. The definition of our neighbor includes the needy which encompasses a much broader definition than I had realized. The needy include not only the poor, but the sick, prisoners, lonely, those who don't fit in, outcasts, unpopular, left out, orphans, widows, and the neglected.

What is interesting about the list of needy, is that we have all, most likely, been needy at some point in time, and that most needs do not require money, but time, love, and care. I believe it is time for each of us to prayerfully consider, who are my "neighbors" and how does God want me to reach out? Very possibly food and money may not be their greatest need.

To read the feedback from other readers (from last week) on what they are thinking about preparing for the future, CLICK HERE.

Nevertheless, I do want to be working on my own Family Preparedness Plan (something Duane usually took care of and was passionate about). I still believe I need to make sure I have prepared for the minimum basics which include:

• Water Storage and purification
• Alternative heating and cooking sources
• Food storage
• 72 Hour Kit
• Medical and First Aid Supplies

Be sure to read the details about the new Family Emergency Kit Below.

Introducing - Emergency Preparedness Kit

Saw this class listed online...

Square Foot Gardening Classes (2 parts) - March 7 and March 14. You can plant it, grow it, and serve it . . . with just four square feet of easy-to-manage gardening. Whether you have one small sunny spot in the yard or on the back porch of a townhouse, there's plenty of room to grow a season's worth of fresh, organic vegetables for you and your family. Bob and Lyn Bernstein will show you how to build your own box, mix the magic soil ingredients, and plant your garden. (We'll use the demonstration garden for a Spring Break camp and one of our summer programs!)
Choose one or both parts. DNC Members: $20 per class; General Public: $25 per class. Space is limited - register soon!

Dunwoody Nature Center is a non-profit organization established to develop, improve and preserve 22 acres of Dunwoody Park as a natural classroom for environmental education. Located at 5343 Roberts Drive in DeKalb County's Dunwoody Park. Call 770-394-3322 for more information or visit www.dunwoodynature.org.

How to feed a million people

This is amazing! I can't get these pictures to load but if you see the web link you will see photos of this.

See this article about a guy in Naples FL who puts together packets of rice, protein and flavoring to make nutritious meals for $.10 a serving -- more than 3.5 million as of this last December -- and that's in just 9 months!

An International Food Relief Campaign
Meals Packaged to Date:
3,815,912

http://www.naples-daily-news.com/news/2008/mar/09/rotary-club-naples-distributes-its-millionth-rice-/


This program is through the group Steve Popper started, Kids Against Hunger -- http://kidsagainsthungerofswfl.org/Contact_Us.php

Want to do this in your town? contact them at: info@kidsagainsthungerofswfl.org

Churches, youth groups, community groups help do this in Naples -- why not here?

What is a packaging event?

A packaging event is a community-involved project. During the Event, participants will be trained and supervised in how to package the food. Training will take about ten minutes, the rest of the time will be spent packaging the food. There is no heavy lifting. There are jobs for everyone regardless of age or ability. Some participants will be pouring the ingredients into the bags, others will be weighing the bags, others will be sealing the bags, runners will bring the sealed bags to people who box and palletize the finished meals. People as young as three years old have participated. Church groups, civic organizations, schools and senior citizen groups have all participated in packaging the Kids Against Hunger Meals.


How are the meals packaged?

Packaging meals are simple. The ingredients of rice, soy protein, dried vegetables, vitamins/minerals and chicken flavoring are a complete, nutritious meal, with packaged meals having been sent throughout the world. There are 6 meals to a bag, and 36 bags to a box. Each box contains 216 meals. There are over 285,000 meals to a container.

How long does it take to package meals?

A typical packaging event lasts about two hours. During that time, each person normally packages around 350 meals.
An event with 285 people will package 100,000 meals in two hours!

How much does it cost?

Each meal costs $0.12. With the news of food costs rising throughout the world, the fact that our costs
remain so low is a major component to our success. Packaging Event hosts are asked to raise money to cover the cost of the number of meals packaged at their event. The standard donation is $25 per person at each event.
There are NO administrative charges. 100% of all money raised goes to pay for the cost of the meals.

So where do the meals go?

Kids Against Hunger gives the meals away free of charge. We have set up a distribution network utilizing the Harry Chapin Food Bank, and Collier Harvest. Between both organizations the meals are distributed to over 200 agencies in Southwest Florida, located in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades Counties. Some of the agencies that distribute the Kids Against Hunger Meals include, St Matthew's House, Shelter for Abused Women, Immokalee Friendship House, and Guadalupe Family Center. We are committed to distribute as many meals possible in Southwest Florida. In addition we have sent food to Jamaica and Haiti, as hurricane relief and in response to food riots.

Coupon mom originator to speak

Free Coupon Mom Seminar in Atlanta Area Feb. 7th

---

Hickory Flat United Methodist Church in Canton, GA (a northern suburb of Atlanta) is hosting a free Coupon Mom Seminar on Saturday, February 7th from 10 to noon. They are graciously providing free coffee and donuts, we'll have a drawing to give away prizes (coupon organizers, restaurant gift certificates, books, etc.) and I'll get to meet members in person!

Although the seminar is free, attendees are required to sign up online at the church's website. Space is limited. You can get details and sign up here. Just look for Feb. 7th on the calendar

Supermarket Secrets

on John Tesh's radio program today. Click here for more information.

Plant those seeds now!

See the cool website at wintersown.org to see photos and get info on howyou can start your plants NOW outside in milk jugs an plastic containers. you can also exchange seeds and get free ones from others.

The plants will grow stronger and earlier from being outside, even in freezing temps. If you are not into starting plants and watching over them, bring your plastic jugs and plastic covered containers from restaurants, food etc. to church and we'll plant them for you!

We hope to have a great garden area around the new parking lot this summer, for fresh vegetables for the food pantry. We will be needing help with some of it to get set up so watch for details!
Shelly

Request from Publix

Manager at the Kennesaw Publix at Jiles asked if we would please take a black marker and strike down through somewhere in the upc code of items so they would not be returned for cash. He got a report that a man named Jerry C. was doing this and bragging about how much money he got from Publix. That's not our intent, I know. Mike Chester said if we run a line down vertically in the upc codes that will not let it scan for refunds. I think this is a terrible misuse of our time, effort and money to give money for beer, etc. I'd like all other food pantries to know this too.
Shelly

Prayer Requests

Two food pantry "regulars" have medical issues that we can be praying about.

Sat 1/3 David M. was in the hospital. At the time the doctors weren't sure if he had had a seizure or other problem. David takes oxygen on a continual basis. His son came to pick up food for him on Saturday. Please pray for David and his family.

Friday 1/16 Toby P. AKA "Number 1" is scheduled for surgery. Please pray that God would calm his fears and send him angels to watch over him. Toby has some additional health issues that may make surgery risky. Pray for God's peace and the love and support of those around him.