SERVE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 , 2024
‘Twas the week before Christmas at MPUMC
‘Twas the week before Christmas at MPUMC,
Where the air was alive with hope, joy, and peace.
The week kicked off brightly with Lunches of Love,
Spreading goodwill and cheer, all guided from above.
Serve Sunday Volunteers with hearts full of care,
Packed up their gifts and the love they would share.
Three hundred toiletry bags, neat and tight,
Were readied to bring families comfort and light.
Sixty small Christmas trees wrapped up with flair,
A gift full of love for each home to prepare.
One hundred twenty mugs with hot cocoa inside,
With chocolatey spoons bringing warmth far and wide.
Six hundred pounds of cheese carefully divided,
To each family a package, will be provided.
Recipe cards and spice bags, paired to align,
A perfect small gift for a dinner divine.
The Girl Scouts brought joy with their pie-making kits,
With crusts and fillings, all ready to mix.
A sweet family project, shared laughter and fun,
A delicious dessert when the baking was done.
Silverware sets, each wrapped in their place,
Brought joy and warm smiles to each loving embrace.
Thousands of toys, all selected with care,
Were loaded for children, a joy to declare.
The mobile Christmas Shoppe brings wonder and cheer,
Filling hearts with the magic of Christmastime near.
The Angel Tree gifts, given kindly and true,
Brought blessings to families, all thanks to you.
Through every donation, each heart shines so bright,
A season of giving, a beacon of light.
As we work through the week with hearts full of love,
Spreading Christmas joy, all inspired from above.
Let us hold close the wonder of this sacred night,
Our savior is coming.. …to fill the world with His light!
By partnering with individuals and groups in the community, food and other necessities are donated and delivered to those who are isolated due to poverty, in targeted neighborhoods where a lack of transportation severely limits access to other resources. What began as a summer lunch program quickly became a year round outpouring of love. There are times that the meals we provide will be the only food that these families will eat that day.
In addition to summer food bags, we also provide household items, jackets, diapers, school supplies, books, food boxes, Easter Baskets, Thanksgiving meals and a free Christmas Shoppe. The most extraordinary thing about this program is the relationships that develop and the sharing that occurs between everyone involved.
FOR 10 WEEKS THIS SUMMER WE ARE COLLECTING DONATIONS FROM THIS GROCERY LIST! CHECK OUT BOTTOM OF THE LIST FOR DROP OFF INSTRUCTIONS.
PLAN A FOOD COLLECTION AT YOUR WORKPLACE, WITH YOUR TEAM OR CLASS OR CLUB.
STOCK UP ON SALE ITEMS AND DONATE A CASE OF FOOD WHEN THE PRICE IS AT ITS LOWEST. YOUR DONATIONS MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR FOOD INSECURE NEIGHBORS.
ON SATURDAY, MARCH 30TH WE TOOK THE HOPE OF EASTER AND THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST INTO 4 IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS. VOLUNTEERS LOADED UP 2 TRUCKS WITH FOOD AND EASTER BASKETS, AND DELIVERED THE FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO THESE FOOD DESERT AREAS.
WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THESE FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO EAT DURING THE FOLLOWING SPRING BREAK WEEK WHEN THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL. WE BROUGHT MEAL KITS WHICH PROVIDED EACH FAMILY WITH OVER 10 HIGH PROTEIN MEALS. OVER 350 POUNDS OF CHICKEN, TURKEY, BEEF, VENISON, AND EVEN ANTELOPE! EACH FAMILY ALSO CHOSE A BOX OF CEREAL FROM THE HUNDREDS COLLECTED BY THE GIRL SCOUTS.
THE HGHLIGHT OF THE DAY FOR MANY WAS A VISIT WITH THE EASTER BUNNY. OVER 1200 EASTER BASKETS WERE DISTRIBUTED THIS WEEKEND AND THE VERY BEST HUGS WERE GIVEN BY THE KINDEST MOST CARING BUNNY ON THE PLANET. PICTURES WITH THE EASTER BUNNY WILL BE EDITED, PRINTED, AND GIVEN TO THE FAMILIES. FOR SOME, IT WILL BE THE ONLY PRINTED PHOTO THEY HAVE OF THEIR CHILDREN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WAYS YOU CONTRIBUTE!
WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS!
We have volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and abilities every week! Volunteer with your family, with a friend, with a group, or just show up and meet some new friends!
We need volunteers every week during weekdays and evenings! We also have special opportunities on some weekends.
All ages are welcome, kids must bring a parent.
Click on the sign up link for more information.
Click on picture above for volunteer sign up
The days and weeks after each holiday is the best time to shop for HUGE clearance savings and help us to stock up! As Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Dollar General, Kohls, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and other stores clear their holiday shelves to make room for other items, please consider buying items to donate to Lunches of Love. If you see a great deal (75 - 90% off), grab it, if you wait, it will be gone.
DROP OFF DONATIONS AT MOUNTAIN PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 1405 ROCKBRIDGE ROAD, STONE MOUNTAIN, GA
FAMILY LIFE CENTER (use Popular Drive Entrance): Sundays 9:30 - Noon, Wednesdays 5-6:30pm, Thursdays 6:30 - 8pm, 24 hour drop box by entrance
OFFICE AREA (use Pine Circle Entrance): Monday - Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
THANK YOU TO EMPIRE HEATING AND AIR AND EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR LUNCHES OF LOVE! THE $1000 GRAND PRIZE WAS USED TO PURCHASE THANKSGIVING TURKEYS FOR OUR 300 LUNCHES OF LOVE FAMILIES!
2023: Summer #11
Eleven years ago, as plans were being made for the first summer Lunches of Love delivery, a lot of time and preparation went into choosing specific neighborhoods with a high percentage of food insecurity. These neighborhoods are also unique due to the lack of private transportation and limited access to grocery stores. As we have gotten to know the residents, we have met LOTS of kids! And LOTS of families! We have also met many elderly adults, as well as those with chronic health issues.
During the summer of 2023, volunteers loaded up a 26 foot U-haul truck with 250 bags of nonperishable food each Monday night. A unique special delivery item was also included each week. This summer we took out laundry detergent, diapers, pots and pans, birthday cake kits, books, crafts for the kids, balls, and school supplies.
(TO READ MORE CLICK HERE)
2022 end of year report
It takes me days to write up the year end report. I go through a stack of paper 8” high, just to try to figure out the numbers from Christmas. It takes so long because when we are delivering Christmas gifts and food and toiletries day after day, we are doing our best to help as many people as we can in the midst of chaos! The registration forms help us to know how to serve each family, but in the end, the paperwork is just a tool that is quickly forgotten. By the end of each day we are exhausted. There is barely enough time to regroup before we go out again the next day. To be honest, I hate going through the stacks of papers trying to check the registration numbers and adding everything up. I work painstakingly to try to figure out why one row or column doesn’t add up correctly, or which apartment number is actually the correct one for each family. The “numbers” take a long time. Sometimes these registrations forms are filled out by someone who can barely read, or someone with horrible handwriting… and sometimes that person whose notes I struggle to understand is me! (Click HERE for more)
We are located in the Community Room within the Family Life Center of Mountain Park United Methodist Church, 1405 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain, GA 30087. The Family Life Center is to the left and back of the sanctuary (for easy access, use the Popular Drive entrance off of Rockbridge Road)
Share the love!
If you know of a family in need, or have questions about how you can get involved please email lunches@mountainparkumc.org
This program is run completely by volunteers and exists through generous donations of food, supplies and money. Monetary donations are always appreciated and give us the flexibility to purchase the items we need to supplement donated items. Checks may be made out to: “Mountain Park United Methodist Church” with a notation that the donation is for “Lunches of Love”. Place donations in the weekly Sunday offering or mail to P.O. Box 871147, Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Online donations may be made through https://onrealm.org/mountainparkumc/-/form/give/now (please scroll through the option to change the "fund" to “Lunches of Love”)