The Story of Our Food Pantry
Jesus said to his disciples: “You give them something to eat!”
At Grace, we take Jesus at his word! Twenty years ago, we gave away 100 bags of groceries each year. Now almost 100 people stop by Grace for help every week.
Pantry Hours
We welcome our Food Pantry guests to select food items that help them make ends meet for themselves or their families. Unless otherwise noted, the Food Pantry is open on the following days.
- Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Here are this year’s Food Pantry Schedule Adjustments due to Holidays.
Closings Due to Bad Weather
If the Green Bay Public Schools are closed during the day or during hours the Food Pantry is scheduled, the Food Pantry will also be closed.
Here’s How You Can Help
- On the desk in the parlor, please sign up to serve to welcome our Food Pantry guests. If you haven’t served at the Food Pantry before, you’ll receive simple instructions on the day you serve.
- Bring food items any time you come to church! There is a large basket for non-perishable items outside the entrance to the sanctuary where people hang their coats.
Volunteer to help transport or sort food received from the Boy Scout and Letter Carrier food drives. These opportunities to serve will be announced in church and will be published in the bulletin and newsletter.
- Mark an offering for the Food Pantry. We purchase food from Feeding America and local grocers.
- Participate in the annual Food Fight! The present Food Fight Champions are those who worship on Saturday evenings!
The Garden at Christ Community Lutheran Church
The seeds were sown for the idea of a community garden at a pastors’ meeting several years ago. Christ Community happened to have plenty of space for a garden and some members with amazing enthusiasm to gather other volunteers and resources for this ground-breaking, cooperative project. Members of Grace and Christ Community currently plant, weed, and harvest the Garden. Members of the confirmation class head out to the Garden to pull up all the old plants to ready it for a long winter’s nap. Vegetables from the Garden are brought to Grace’s Food Pantry regularly in the summer by the Garden’s de facto leader, Al Rasmussen. Some of the harvest has been sold at Christ Community, the proceeds going to ELCA World Hunger.
Amazing that a bit of ground in Green Bay can be a blessing around the world!
Fairly Traded Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate
A Cup of Coffee isn’t Just a Cup of Coffee!
The first weekend of every month* our lobby becomes a tiny marketplace for small farmers all over the world to sell coffee, tea, hot chocolate, baking chocolate, and chocolate bars at prices that truly reflect their costs and that guarantee them a fair profit. These farmers are, in turn, able to invest in health and education projects in their communities. They also often receive help learning to farm organically and sustainably. When you buy the cheapest coffee in the store, you miss a tremendous opportunity to make a difference for good in the world!
If you run out before the next Equal Exchange weekend, just call the church office at 920-432-0308, and your order will be ready for pick-up the next weekday.
*Some months it’s the second weekend. You’ll find all the weekends for this years’ Fairly Traded Sales here, or call the church office at 920-432-0308.
NEW Community Shelter Meal
For more than 20 years, members of Grace have helped provide a meal at the New Community Shelter on the 2nd Saturday evening of the month.
Did You Know:
- The New Community Shelter, in collaboration with over 140 community organizations, church groups, businesses and individuals, offers dinner meal 365 days a year for residents and community men, women, and children who are hungry. In 2019 they served 110,000 meals!
- The New Community Shelter was established in 1994 to provide emergency shelter and supportive services for 92 homeless adult men and women in Brown County and surrounding areas and a transitional living program that includes 16 efficiency apartments.
How You Can Help:
Please sign up on the desk in the parlor to help serve a meal or to provide:
- 150 pieces of fruit (apples, bananas, oranges, cuties)
- 14 desserts (1 dessert = 12 servings…12 bars, 12 cookies, etc.)
- Donations may be made by designating them for the New Community Shelter.
Easter Dinner
Every Easter, members and friends of Grace welcome anyone in our neighborhood to enjoy an Easter Dinner. Ham, scalloped potatoes, vegetables and dessert are always served up with smiles! To get in touch with those who are running the Easter Dinner this year, please e-mail Pastor Julie at pastorjulie@gracegb.org .