Welcome to Do Justice, a semi-monthly newsletter of the Virginia Synod, lifting up God’s call and command that we, God’s people, do justice. You will find helpful info about justice ministries in congregations, around Virginia, and through the ELCA. If you have stories of justice to share from your congregation, please share those with me at bayerderrick@vasynod.org so I can share them with others in the synod!
The Rev. Kelly Bayer Derrick
Assistant to the Bishop
Tapestry Book Study: Dear Church
Climate Crisis and the Bible
Timberville Ministry Association Food Pantry
Submitted by Pastor Angela Dunn of Rader LC
In August Broadway Timberville Ministry Association (BTMA) began investigation what it would take to come together as a church and community and house a food pantry possibly in the former Broadway Supermarket building. Sunset Drive Methodist volunteered Joe Adolph as head of the project.
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB) Director, Robin Swecker was available to answer questions for the pastors and volunteers gathered at the Supermarket. Ms. Swecker also took some of us to tour local pantries – Hope Inc. in Harrisonburg and RARA in Rockbridge Co./Lexington. Ms. Swecker is hoping to make our community pantry the size of those coming together in other counties. A possible name for our pantry would be Tree of Life (from Revelation 22).
Belonging to BRAFB costs $50/year. We would pay $.05 per pound for food delivered by trucks. We hope we would also be able to make available pork/cheese/milk surplus items through USDA.
The rent and upkeep of such a building requires a start-up cost.
We hope as a coalition of the community, we will alleviate hunger and address poverty. We will check census data, but we believe if we have Title 1 schools in the area then the Food Pantry is a necessity. We hope school, Pilgrims, and Walmart among other employers will support our efforts. If we are successful, we will try and work on other needs like utilities, housing and transportation.
