Loving Our Neighbors
An important part of our faith is serving others and particularly those in need. Our church food pantry is open Monday 2 to 5 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 11 am to 2 pm, and Sunday 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. All are welcome to receive food from our pantry, including our church members.
If you'd like to help:
If you'd like to help:
- Interested in helping hands-on? We're looking for volunteers to work with visitors who would like to access the food pantry during Sunday services and other open hours. Contact Maddie Collins or Lynne Lovetinsky if you can help.
- Donate food. You're welcome to donate items by dropping them off near the food pantry in the lower level alcove. There is a box for non-perishable foods. We also have a freezer and refrigerator for perishable items. Please see the board in the food pantry or the weekly e-bulletin for current needs.
- Make a monetary donation. Write "Food Pantry" in the subject line of your check made out to "St. Raphael Church" or through our website Donate page.
If you'd like to be a pantry host
As a host, you simply put a sign out front of the church to indicate we are open, greet people, get their contact information, and help them find their way around our pantry.
- No limits. We do not limit what anyone takes. We treat every visitor as if that person were Christ Himself, based on our Orthodox faith and on Scripture (see especially Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-40).
- Sign. We have a sign to put in front of church when the pantry is open.
- Pantry sign-in. There is a clipboard for sign-in for the pantry. Make sure visitors write down as much contact information as possible on the clipboard and how many people are in their family unit. This helps us track how many people are being served and plan for financial support and grants.
- Supplies. We have a box of plastic bags and paper bags, when available, for people to carry their food items home in.
