February 5, 2025

It was another lively and uplifting Saturday morning at the pantry. Even though it is winter, the pantry garden is still producing  hardy plantings in the hoop house. This Saturday we were able to offer freshly harvested “perpetual” spinach to our visitors. This item was enthusiastically embraced by produce lovers. Kudos to our Lord’s Acre Garden volunteers.

On February 1st we served 129 households comprised of 480 individuals. We welcomed five new households and sixteen new individuals.

Looking forward to this coming Saturday, we will have food from TEFAP again to distribute. TEFAP is the acronym for The Emergency Food Assistance Program. This program was initiated in the 1980s and is funded by the Federal government and is overseen in North Carolina by the state department of agriculture. MANNA is the distribution agent serving several counties in Western North Carolina. We will be receiving about three thousand pounds of additional food for distribution. TEFAP distribution was suspended by MANNA after Helene due to damage to the MANNA facilities and is now available from its new warehouse.

We continue to recognize and thank partner churches, community members, civic organizations, schools, retirement communities, donors, foundations, and all who have contributed in many ways to this ministry of service to those experiencing food insecurity.

Fred Yopps, for the Executive Committee