Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays
Each year, Providence UMC gives 100% of the Christmas Eve offering to make a big impact by helping a deserving ministry reach a milestone. This year, the Mission Council chose Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, a local non-profit that is doing amazing work at feeding our hungry Charlotte neighbors and has an impressive vision to grow their efforts to reach the food-insecure residents. PUMC wants to be a part of this effort. The 2022 PUMC Christmas Eve Offering will build a new on-site pantry for Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays’ newly purchased 90,000-square-foot home!
These trying economic times have had a devastating impact in Charlotte. As rent increases, food prices climb. And with wages stagnating, Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays has seen a dramatic rise in people needing their services. Over the last year alone, they have seen an 81% increase in pantry visits and a 33% increase in Grocery Home Delivery. The new home and warehouse in the Thomasboro-Hoskins neighborhood will have nearly 10x more space for cold storage of fresh food, a Teaching Kitchen to host cooking demonstrations, a collaboration center to host partners, and much more. The Christmas Eve offering will go directly to outfit the onsite pantry and fulfill a Grocery Home Delivery program with up to a week’s worth of food. The new facility will allow Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays to serve more people, more efficiently.
Stay tuned for weekly updates from the organization. We look forward to supporting them this season! Articles will be featured in the newsletter weekly and Tina Postel, Chief Executive Officer of Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, will speak at all three services about the project on Sunday, December 11.
To learn more about the organization, click HERE.
While this is a 'Christmas Eve offering', donations are accepted throughout this season of Advent. Below are some ways that you can give:
A message from the Endowment of Providence United Methodist Church:
In this season of advent, we are reminded of the precious gift of the Christ child that God bestowed on us. We are humbled and overjoyed at his coming. At the same time, we are reminded that it is our call as Christians to love and take care of our brothers and sisters in community with us. This year, the Christmas Eve offering will go to support Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, a local non-profit that is doing amazing work at feeding our hungry Charlotte neighbors. In order to increase the impact of our Christmas Eve offering and to further support our community, the Endowment Committee has approved a matching contribution for every dollar given in the Christmas Eve services up to $15,000. In other words, for every dollar of donation made on Christmas Eve, the Endowment will contribute a dollar, increasing our overall giving by up to $15,000. The Endowment at Providence is committed to supporting our missions efforts- including increasing our impact in the community. In addition, the Endowment continues to bless our church and congregation by defraying expenses not covered in the operating budget. Please consider an offering this Christmas Eve knowing that your gift and it's impact will be doubled.