Partnerships with schools and food ministries shifted during COVID, and First UMC Roanoke Rapids transitioned from a food pantry to a partnership with the local school system that is yielding amazing results.
Two aspects of the new model make it both unique and highly effective. Because the donations are from a community church, they can be used to support an entire family and not just the student alone as most school funds generally require. Second, the partnership allows the school to identify those families in dire need and to have school-based counselors who know the families make the deliveries, often with some counseling.
The Director of School Nutrition creates the list of the families in most need using the Free and Reduced Lunch data base and the insight of school-based counselors. The church raises funds through donations that fund meals for the identified families at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and long weekends when students often lack food. The school orders holiday meals from local restaurants or provide grocery staples, and the counselors who know the families deliver them. If donations allow, the church volunteers work with the Director to prepare additional gift bags of needed items such as hygiene goods for the families.
First UMC transitioned the funds that had accrued for their pre-COVID food pantry to challenge the Roanoke Rapids community to match those funds in support of Feed a Family by December 31, 2021. So far, $7370 has been raised in the community and will be matched by the church.
The church has decorative cards people can send as an alternative gift in honor or memory of friends and relatives. To make a donation, please send a check to FUMC and designate “Feed a Family.” The address is 339 Roanoke Avenue, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.
