Groceries for Families: Week 68

Groceries for Families: Week 68

The second try at the new Phase 3 operation brought some small changes but mostly stayed the same as last week. Feedback from families and volunteers was very positive about the experience. They like the slower pace, opportunities for choices, and personal interaction. We’ll keep adjusting and improve as we go forward, but we’ve definitely found something very positive in the current setup.

Groceries for Families: Week 67

Groceries for Families: Week 67

Welcome to Phase 3! In short, today was awesome and the operation worked. There’s so much to tell you, so get ready for the fire hose of sharing.

The weather has been wonderful, with cool mornings and warm afternoons. What a difference a week makes. Things now start on Tuesday, with lots of shoppers dropping of groceries and pantry items all morning long. For some people, this was no change from last week. For the other 2/3, it was a different day which had some people off schedule. Yet, everyone came who was expected. By noon, the lobby was full with groceries ready to go out. Thank you to everyone who donated this week.

Groceries for Families: Week 66 - Day 3

Groceries for Families: Week 66 - Day 3

The final day of Phase 2 has come and gone. It seems best to say it was simply typical. There were lots of happy people here all day, with a strong feeling of community. Despite the bittersweet feeling overhanging much, it was a very nice day of ‘Groceries for Families.’ The weather cooperated nicely, with a cool morning of marine air giving way to a warm afternoon. It’s so hard to believe it was furnace hot just three days ago. The morning was busy with lots of people dropping off donations. Thank you, everyone. The afternoon had a slow but steady line of families.

Groceries for Families: Week 66 - Day 2

Groceries for Families: Week 66 - Day 2

Is it wrong to say it was a little chilly early this morning at Jubilee? Not cold, but just chilly enough to wonder if a light jacket would be needed. That gave way to warmth soon enough, but it was a shocking change to the recent days. The sun finally came out just as we opened at 1pm, which warmed up the afternoon nicely. The operation ran smoothly today. The morning was busy with lots of people dropping off groceries and pantry items. Thank you, everyone! The afternoon was very, very busy, making up for the very slow Tuesday. There was a steady line from start to finish. The last two people coming through picked up for 4 and 5 families respectively, which filled multiple carts. So nice to be busy!

Groceries for Families: Week 66 - Day 1

Groceries for Families: Week 66 - Day 1

We continue to be protected from extreme weather in this operation. All winter the storms avoided GFF operation days. The intense heat of Sat, Sun, Mon missed us again. It is hard to imagine the operation running yesterday. Under the canopies yesterday was like an oven. Thank you for your prayers.

We begin week 66 of ‘Groceries for Families’ has finally reached the last week of the current GFF phase. Phase 1 ran from March 23 to August 31, 2020. During this phase, families came twice per week and the operation ran six days a week. Phase 2 ran from September 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021. During this phase, families came once per week and the operation ran three days a week. Beginning next week, phase 3 will have families coming one day per week, with the operation running split between Tuesday AM and all day Wednesday. Today’s operation was very slow, even slower than last Tuesday. It is likely a factor of the heat, which remained today around 90 degrees, and the fact that it is the last week. Last Wednesday was super busy, so we’re quite expecting tomorrow to be equally so to balance today.

Groceries for Families: Week 65 - Day 3

Groceries for Families: Week 65 - Day 3

It feels like week 65 is ending just in time before the intense heat comes. It’s been a good week, with a smooth operation each day. We’re so very fortunate to avoid the high temperatures, though. The morning today was a steady in-flow of happy people dropping off all sorts of donations. Thank you, everyone. The afternoon was a typical Thursday, with a slow but steady flow of families. Having the tomatoes and vaccine clinic here definitely slowed down the turnover of the parking lot, which is fine but was noticeable. It was another good week. Thank you.