Groceries for Families: Week 5 - Day 2

April 21, 2020

The rain held off today after bringing a bit misty this morning.  It was a really busy day, but we had a full staff who was ready to work.  The morning shift handled all the receiving of groceries and the afternoon delivered them.  It’s quite an operation!

Today’s groceries were provided by Cornerstone, Creekside Covenant, Westminster Chapel, and Crossroads Bible churches.  This was the busiest day of the program to date, with 127 orders given to families, including 10 delivered.  A few extra orders were brought today, so there are actually four remaining as I type this.  My hunch is a few families will show up before I leave today.  Otherwise, they will go out as deliveries first thing tomorrow.

The laundry detergent was available to all families again today.  Nearly all happily received it, including a mom with seven young children who were given the largest Kirkland brand bucket donated.  She was elated!

We did a trial run of corn tortillas today to see how popular they would be.  Not surprisingly, they were very popular, indeed.  They will likely be on a shopping list next week.

Elsie Bencke

Elsie Bencke is a local teenager who has been donating personal hygiene & bulk food items with her family since day one.  Last week, she asked how else she could help.  I challenged her to come up with a way to give some fun to the little children in the families.  Today, she showed up with 50-60 fun activity kits tailor-made for 2-6 year old’s.  One young girl was so excited, she immediately put many of the stickers on her forehead.  Thank you, Elsie!  So cool!

A nice email from a family to share:

Mi familia es de 4 hermosas hijas de 16,10, 8 , 6 años Papá y Mama. Después de vivir 12 años en Los Ángeles CA. Decidimos mudarnos a Bellevue, es un lugar completamente diferente y muy bonito, nos encanto! Papá encontró rápidamente trabajo en un restaurante de Seattle le fue muy bien y un año después Mami encontró trabajo en una cocina de una escuela privada, también le fue muy bien por que con part- time era suficiente para poder cuidar de nuestras hijas después de escuela. Tristemente el año 2018 fue muy difícil para la familia pues pasamos por un trauma horrible por que nos enteramos que una persona le hizo mucho daño a nuestra hija de 16 años cuando ella te tenia 14 años, fue algo muy doloroso por que todo ese proceso de denunciar de declarar y al mismo tiempo volver a recordar el daño es muy doloroso y difícil de enfrentar, mami se enfermó mucho tubo problemas lumbares le afectó el nervio ciático y no podía moverse era como estar en cuarentena en verano por que no podíamos salir por que mami tenia mucho dolor fue difícil para la familia también, pero Dios siempre estuvo de nuestro lado enfrentando el trauma más doloroso de nuestras vidas, nuestra hija de 16 años deseaba su fiesta de sweet 16, un festejo con su vestido un baile con chambelanes algo rico para comer y algunos amigos e invitados, lo estábamos planeando para celebrarlo este año, pero después llegó este terrible virus y todos nuestros planes no podrán ser posible, era algo para poder distraer a nuestra hija un poco por todo lo que a pasado, papi y mami no están trabajando por motivo del Covid-19 y ahora no hay dinero para la renta ni para comida, pero Dios nos ama demasiado y existe gente buena como ustedes, un día mami recibió una llamada del FCC de la primaria y decían que si deseábamos que nos ayudaran con comida en  el programa  de Jubilie! Aunque no los conozcamos a ustedes se vuelven en una parte muy importante en nuestras vidas por que nos apoyan en momentos difíciles sin su ayuda no se como hubiéramos podido traer comida a la casa para nuestras hija, le doy gracias a Dios por que existe gente buena como ustedes y ayudan a varias familias con historias diferentes pero que necesitamos de mucho apoyo. Muchas gracias por pensar en familias como nosotros,  que Dios los bendiga siempre.  

My family is made up of four beautiful daughters of 16, 10, 8, 6 years old, dad, and mom. After living 12 years in Los Angeles, CA, we decided to move to Bellevue. It is a place completely different and very beautiful. We love it! Dad found work very quickly working in a restaurant in Seattle, and a year later mom found a job in a kitchen at a private school, and it also went well because with part-tie work it was sufficient to be able to take care of our daughters after school. Sadly, 2018 was a very hard year for our family because we went through horrible trauma as we found out that a person had done much wrong with our 16-year-old when she was 14. It was really painful because during all this process of having to declare all that happened we had to remember the wrong that was done which was painful and difficult to face. Mom was really sick and had lumbar problems that affected the sciatic nerve and could not move. It was like being in quarantine during the summertime because we could not go out since mom had a lot of pain and this was very difficult for the family. God was always by our side facing this most painful trauma of our lives. Our 16-year-old daughter wished to celebrate her Sweet 16, a festivity with a dress, a dance, and escorts, something delicious to eat, and some friends and guests. We were planning to celebrate it this year, but then this terrible virus came along and all our plans will not be a possibility. It would have been something to distract our daughter from all that has happened. Dad and mom are not working right now because of Covid-19 and now there is no money for rent, not even for food, but God loves us so much and people like you exist. One day, mom received a call from the elementary FCC and told us that if we need help with food there was a program available at Jubilee! Although we do not know you, you have become very important in our lives because you support us during these difficult moments. Without your help, we do not know how we would have brought food to our house, to our daughters. I thank God because good people like you exist and help various families, all with different stories but all who very much need support. Thank you for thinking of us. May God bless you always.

(Extra Note:  A volunteer has stepped forward to organize a celebration for this family and the 16-year old’s birthday next week.)

Day 26 was a good day.  Keep praying for this program and these families.  Thank you for all your love and support.

Keep going!
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

Groceries for Families: Week 5 - Day 1

April 20, 2020

Today begins week 5 and maybe our only day of sunshine this week.  It was lovely today!  Energy and spirits are high with the staff.  Everyone is super motivated and happy to be serving.  So blessed!

Groceries were provided today by CityHill Bellevue, Common Good, Rain City, Lighthouse, and Sacred Heart churches.  A total of 100 orders were delivered and every one of them went to families, with the final seven being delivered by Daniel.  Thank you!

Rain City Church Delivery

Many deliveries of personal hygiene items were delivered today.  Thank you!  Below is a picture of the NCL & NLYM order with two of their members.  Also below is a picture of my office is quite filled, as the attached picture shows. 

Wow!  It started going out today to families.

NCL NLYM Delivery

Ken’s Office

As part of the hygiene list, we added laundry detergent for the first time.  It is a very popular and needed item.  We made the decision weeks ago to only provide it when enough was available for ALL families, so we’ve been collecting.  Today, all families were given 20 pods or a bottle of liquid detergent.  No one turned us down.  We will continue Tuesday and Wednesday, which will exhaust all or most of what we have here.  Thank you for all the donations for this to be possible!

A few emails from families to share:

 Hola mi nombre es Georgina .. solo quieo agradecer por la ayuda que mi familia está reciviendo por medio de ustedes Jubilee REACH  .. Nuestra familia está en una situación muy difícil mi esposo perdió el trabajo hace un mes no tenemos ahorros y gracias a ustedes nuestra familia  de 5 miembros tiene un plato de comida caliente en casa i mi bebe tiene pañales y toallitas húmedas eso es muy importante cuando hay bebé en casa  suena básico pero en este momento no podemos ni comprar eso 😞ya que en en estos momentos tan difíciles que estamos pasando my familia y yo agradecemos su ayuda con todo el corazón 💖 que dios los bendiga y les de mucha salud y vendrán tiempos mejores detodo corazón gracias 🙏 

 Hi, my name is Georgina... I just want to give thanks for the help my family is receiving through Jubilee REACH. Our family is in a very difficult situation. My husband lost his job about a month ago and we do not have any funds and thanks to you all our family of 5 has a plate of hot food in our house and my baby has diapers and wet wipes, which are really important when you have a baby in the house. It sounds basic but at this moment we cannot buy that 🙁 in these difficult moments we are going through, I thank you for your help with all my heart  💖  God bless you and give you much health and better moments will come ahead. With all our heart, thank you 🙏 

Hola Daniel buenas noches!  Mi nombre es Diana, hable con usted el lunes pasado y usted me informó acerca de las despensas de comida que nos están ofreciendo a las familias en este ciclo tan fuerte por el que estamos atravesando la humanidad,quiero expresar a usted y a las personas que asen posible que las familias nos llegue  un plato de comida a la mesa , de corazón mi más profundo e infinito agradecimiento por este acto de bondad y cariño para con la comunidad reciban departe de mi familia un fuerte abrazo a todo ese equipo de personas que trabajan en esta labor, tan hermosa ,mis más sinceras Felicitaciones  por ser como son bendiciones!

Hello Daniel, good evening!  My name is Diana, I spoke with you last Monday and you informed me about the groceries you are helping families with during this challenging time that humanity is facing. I want to express my gratitude to you and to the people who make this possible so families are able to have a plate of food on the table. From the bottom of my heart and an infinite thanks for this act of goodness and kindness so the community can receive. From my family, a big hug to this team of people who are working. My sincere congratulations for being who you are, you are a blessing.

I hope you find these summaries helpful and motivating.  My hope is you can use bits and parts of each day’s report to share with others who are participating in this program.  It is critical we keep people motivated, and information & communication does that.  We need to sustain this program until the very end.

The waiting list was cleared today, with an additional 55 families being added to the program this week.  There are now 385 families being served twice each week.  Fifteen of them came today for the first time.  There were new faces I didn’t recognize.

Thank you for all your faithful giving.  Thank you for trusting us with your resources.  We are stewarding it well, and it is making a difference in many lives.

Enjoy the warm evening,
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

Groceries for Families: Week 4 - Day 6

April 18, 2020

Well, the sunshine ended today.  It started as overcast but turned to rain at about 9:30 am.  Fortunately, it let up by 10:30 am.  We tried to avoid setting up the canopies, especially over the market, but had to give in at 10:00 am when the rain came harder.

Enjoy the time-lapse from 8:30 am-12:00 pm.  

Evangelical Chinese Church Grocery Delivery

Groceries today were provided by Evangelical Chinese and Bellevue Presbyterian churches.  A total of 90 orders were delivered and most were taken home by families.  We had a few no-shows, which likely had to do with the rain. We’ll see if they come Monday to claim them.

More personal hygiene and bulk food donations came in today.  We are looking good for Monday.  Thank you!

A constant need is the larger size of diapers, #6, #5 and #4.  Even the diapers delivered this morning of these sizes all went out to families today.

An email from a family to share:

Hola soy mariana solo para agradeserles por tan lindo hesto a sia mi familia 👪 Que dios les bendiga a cada uno de ustedes pir que mi espiso se quedo sin trabajo somos 4 y tenemos 1 niño con discapacidad no saben como nos ayuda lo que nos dan dígales a las personas que lo dan se los agradesemos de corazón y que sean bendicidos grande mente.  Mi familia y yo les damos las gracias infinitas y también gracias a todos los voluntarios bendiciones 😘

Hi, I'm Mariana, just to thank you for such a nice gesture to my family … 👪 May God bless each one of you because my husband does not have a job, we are 4 and we have 1 disabled child, they do not know how what they give us helps us, tell the people who give it, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and be blessed greatly. My family and I give you infinite thanks and also thanks to all the volunteers. Blessings. 😘

An email from a participating church to share:

Thank you for the update, and thank you and your staff for working tirelessly, faithfully and with so much joy, every day!  It is such a  blessing for our church to be part of this ministry together with Jubilee Reach and so many other churches! In God's love, Silvia

Today marks day 24, the last day of the fourth week of this program. 

Here are some updated stats for you:

• Program Days: 24

• Families currently in the program: 330+

• People in these families: 1485 (approximate)

• Grocery orders delivered: 1750

• Churches & Organizations engaged: 21

• Different shoppers participating: 550 (approximate)

It would have been impossible to imagine this program as it is now - when the idea was conceived in early March.  It has taken all of us together to grow it from a seed to the blessing it is to so many in the community, including ourselves.  Thank you for your participation and joy-filled giving.

Read previous blog posts from families about the difference it is making in so many lives.

Monday starts week 5.  Tomorrow is a day of rest.

Rest well, dear friends,
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

Groceries for Families: Week 4 - Day 5

April 17, 2020

Lovely day today…nice people, nice weather, smooth operation.  It was a typical day with plenty of people lining up early and then a huge 40 minute rush at 1:00pm.  Then a lull comes and then a second rush in the second hour.  That’s how it rolls here.  Enjoy the time lapse showing how the groceries are staged and make their way out of the lobby to families. 

Groceries today were delivered by Crossroads Bible (CBC), Covenant Presbyterian and Evangelical Chinese (ECC) churches.  A total of 105 orders were brought and all but a few went out today, including three deliveries. 

Most of the rest of the box lunches provided by the Bellevue School District yesterday were distributed today.  We have just a few remaining for tomorrow.

Lots and lots of people donated personal hygiene items this morning.  The loads just kept coming in.  So great!  Our inventory is getting back to where it needs to be for Monday.  Thank you to all who continue to support that part of the program.  Wow!

The market was full today with the box lunches, fresh fruits & vegetables, breads, canned items and more.

A few emails from families to share:

Hi, My name is Liliana Gonzalez and I have 2 kids, Samantha Rojas of 13 years old and Sebastian of 7, as well as the father of my kids.  Thanks to Jakeh who is the soccer coach at Big Picture.  To the people in charge at Jubilee that would put me on the list.  I thought I had to go to Jubilee and I met Daniel and he put me on the list.  Daniel is very kind.  Right now without being able to work, I had to let you and trust, and just recently my work is opening again but with few hours but that is ok. My kids' father is still not working because his work is closed.  I just wanted to say THANK YOU to the volunteers and all the people who are in charge of providing groceries to all of us.  My family and I thank you because we have not missed a meal to eat thanks to you.  May God bless you and give you health, protection, and many, many, many blessings.  Liliana

Hola.  Mi nombre es Liliana gonzalez y tengo 2 hijos Samantha  rojas de 13 y Sebastián de 7 . Y pues el papá de mis hijos Y gracias por Jacken el es el entrenador de soccer.  En  Big Picture.  En contacto al los encargado  de jubilee para que me pudieran en las listas.  Yo Sentí a qué tenía que ir a jubilee y conocie  a Daniel y el me puso en la lista.  Daniel muy amable.  Yo sin poder trabajar aprendí a soltar y confiar y se que apenas mi trabajo está reabriendo con pocas hora pero está bien. Y el papá de mis hijos todavía está cerrado en su trabajo.  No más yo quería decirles que GRACIAS a los voluntarios y todas las personas que se encargan de proveer comida a nosotros.  Mi  familia  y yo estamos agradecido que no nos a faltado de comer gracias a ustedes.  Que Dios los bendiga y los llene de salud, protección y muchas, muchas   muchas bendiciones.  Liliana

Hello, Jubilee Reach!  My family is very grateful for the groceries and other essentials provided by community members who donate to your organization. Last week, my daughter made turnovers, a carrot cake and Tom Ka Gai using many ingredients that you provided! And she even CLEANED UP: miracle! We also devoured the egg salad and tuna salad that I put together from your donations. 

The girls and I live in a one-bedroom apartment, and they have a two-home family. I am moving toward getting on my feet after leaving an abusive relationship where I was a stay-at-home mom. I now work in an essential industry that is still open. With all the drastic changes in every department of life, I feel exhausted and run out of steam at the end of each workday. So it’s a big help to not have to find so much cash for food or brave the grocery store. At work, all of our hourly workers’ pay was cut earlier this week. I would not be surprised if I were furloughed or laid off. While we are feeling the squeeze, it was a morale booster to find organic bacon, bread, eggs and even chocolate in our bags! It was so thoughtful and kind of you to include some top quality treats along with the essentials! Wow. We appreciate all of your generosity. But today’s batch was an extra nice surprise. So was the note saying that you are praying for us.

We are on a break from Sunday school since church services are online. You and your families are in our prayers. When we look out for each other, we can get through this. And you have been kind enough to look out for us. We will and do pay it forward wherever we can. Many blessings, A mom and two daughters

Today is day 23.  Tomorrow will be the final day of week 4.  Thanks for all your support to make this program possible.  I listened to the radio news this morning about Food Banks around the country.  They said the focus and need is helping families obtain groceries weekly.  We seem to be right where we need to be…all of us together.

Enjoy the warm evening,
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

Groceries for Families: Week 4 - Day 4

April 16, 2020

We’re finishing up from a very busy day today, with lots of great things happening around here.  A strong crew made it all seem easy, and the friendly families make it fun to interact with them all.   Lots of “regulars” came today, which is always nice to see the same faces.  The line reached out to the basketball court for about 20 minutes but moved quickly once operations opened.

Groceries were delivered today by Sacred Heart, Overlake Park Presbyterian, Redeemer, Doxa and Kalos churches.  A total of 95 grocery orders were delivered and all were distributed to families.  The last 15 were delivered by site coaches to people’s homes.

Bulk food items were offered today:  flour, rice, sugar, salt, pinto beans, cooking oil.  They are very popular!  It’s great to give these, as we know people will be able to cook with them.

The Bellevue School District brought box lunches again today, as donated by Microsoft.  Because the BSD is closed tomorrow, we received two days’ worth in one order, which was 1,000 boxes.  That’s a lot, and the concern was refrigerating them overnight.  In the morning, we filled my car with 250, and site-coach Sterling drove them to a Tongan Church in West Seattle, which we’ve been connected to and know their congregation is suffering.  They were delighted to be able to provide for their people.  We must have passed out about 300 to families today, including stationing someone at the parking lot entrance to pass more out as people left.  Another 100 was delivered to Congregations for the Homeless.  The remaining 350 or so have filled every inch of refrigerator space in this building, ready for tomorrow.

The food bank at Lake Samm Foursquare Church delivered a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as assorted hygiene items.  It’s so great to add such things to the market.

A few emails from families to share:

This email 📧 is just to thank you 🙏🏻 guys so much for all your help that you had been giving us during this difficult time me and my family really appreciate everything thanks again .

Hello Daniel, how are you?  I'm Doris, a person you guys help. This message is to send a special hello to all the people in our community, that although we do not know, have provided us this valuable help. It is a grand blessing to have people in this walk like you guys that are a blessing from God. I am sure that God will pour down infinite blessings over all our community and you guys who are very special people, I am very grateful because you have done a lot for me.  I am a woman with two kids and with a baby on the way. Unfortunately for now I am separated with the father of my kids and it is in these moments you guys have been a grand help to me. Every person that makes this possible, all this help, I will plead to God for all of you. May God continue to give you much more and always protect you, and free you from evil, and keep you healthy. Sincerely, Doris

Hola Daniel, cómo está.? Soy Doris una de las personas a las que ustedes ayudan. Y este mensaje es para mandarles un saludo especial a todas aquellas personas de nuestra comunidad que aún sin conocernos nos an brindado su valiosa ayuda; es una gran bendición tener en mi camino personas como ustedes que son una bendición de Dios. Yo estoy segura que Dios derramará infinitas vendiciones sobre toda nuestra comunidad y ustedes que son personas súper especiales yo estoy muy agradecida porque an hecho por mi muchísimo. Yo soy una mujer con dos niños y espero otro bebé, pero lamentablemente por ahora estoy separada del papa de mis hijos y por eso en estos momentos ustedes an sido de gran ayuda para mi. Todas toditas las personas que hacen posible toda esta ayuda, yo rogare a Dios por todos ustedes. Que Dios le dé mucho más y siempre los proteja los libre de todo mal y los mantenga saludables. Atentamente, Doris

A fun time-lapse video is attached.  It covers from about 1:10-3:30pm.  Enjoy!  Thanks, Sam.

Thanks for all the support and prayers being given to the community through this program.  We see the shoppers dropping off in the morning, and there is clearly a common excitement and joy with all of them.

Please continue to work to sustain the involvement and energy of those participating.  This is a marathon, and we are all in it together.

Have a great evening!
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

Groceries for Families: Week 4 - Day 3

April 15, 2020

Day 21 was another smooth and wonderful day serving families.  The crews are dialed in to the operation, making it easier each day and adding plenty of laughter. The great weather continues, which makes everything better.

Groceries were delivered today by Bellevue Presbyterian, Highland Covenant, St. Louise and Bellevue Christian Reformed churches.  A total of 90 grocery orders were delivered on time and were distributed to families, including 5 deliveries by Daniel.  Thank you to all!

Bellevue Presbyterian showed up with two van loads of dry goods from their emergency food storage to donate. It will all be steadily distributed to the families in the coming week through the outside market area.  Thank you!!

Hundreds of masks have been donated over the past week to Jubilee.  Today, we started distributing them to families.  With few exceptions, families accepted these with joy and relief.  They have no other ways of obtaining such items.  Thank you!

Yesterday was the third week for the Tuesday lunch delivery to senior citizens in the community.  Twenty-four lunches were home-made by Barb and her crew, with delivery to all done by noon.   People are sending back lovely notes of thanks and are enjoying the visits by a friendly face, as much as the tasty lunch.  Thank you!

A few emails back from families to pass along to you:

“Daniel, I want to thank you for the help my family has received.  Look at who God is: Never have we received any type of help. We have never had reduced lunch until this year when we had the opportunity. This is the first time in 17 years since I have been in this country that I have received help from someone I don't even know. God knew that in this time we were going to need help now that my husband has lost his job. We have another little mouth to feed, and that of buying diapers is very costly. I want to thank you, on behalf of my family, my husband Eduardo, my son Eduardo, Aaron, Arlette, and myself. May God bless each one of you who works at Jubilee REACH and each person that donates food for families who are in need in these moments. If you only knew how thankful we are with each of you. May God multiply everything you give. Thank you and blessings.”

“Daniel solo quiero agradecer toda la ayuda q recibe mi familia fíjese lo q es Dios nosotros jamas abiamos recibido ningún tipo de ayuda jamas habíamos tenido lonche reducido asta este año q se nos dio la oportunidad es la primera vez en 17 años q llevo en este país q recibo algo de alguien a quien ni siquiera conozco,Como Dios sabía q en este tiempo ibamos a ocupar ayuda ahora q mi esposo perdió el trabajo tenemos una boquita mas q alimentar y eso de comprar pañales es más costoso quiero dar las gracias en nombre de toda mi familia mi esposo Eduardo mi hijo Eduardo, Aaron, Arlette y mia  q Dios bendiga  a cada uno de los q trabaja en Jubilie  reach y a cada persona q dona comida para las familias q necesitamos en estos momentos ojala las familias q donan superan lo agradecidos q estamos con todos ustedes Dios les multiplique todo lo que aportan gracias y bendiciones.”

“My name is Linda. We want to thank you so much for the help you are providing to my family and I. Thank you for the resources of groceries as they are of much help to all of us in the midst of this pandemic and economic crisis. Right now that there is no income in our home, in this moment God provides. Thank you as well to the family that provided these groceries. God bless you and many thanks. ❤️”

“Hola Daniela mi nombre es Linda  queremos agradecerles mucho por la ayuda que nos están brindando Ami Familia y Ami  gracias por estos recursos de alimentos son de mucha ayuda para nosotros enmedio de esta fuerte pandemia y crisis económica ya que no hay ingresos de dinero a nuestro hogar por el momento Pero Dios provee Muchas gracias también queremos agradecer ala familia que proveyó los alimentos que Dios los bendiga y muchas gracias . ❤️”

Today was the last day of the first half of the week where personal hygiene items are provided.  A picture is attached of site coach Charles and our holding area.  Most of our inventory was distributed and shelves are empty.  Thank you to all who donate these items.  They make a difference!

Tomorrow starts the second half of the week where bulk ingredients are distributed.  A picture of Sam is attached, who heads up this assembly line.  It shows him with all the bins ready for distribution.  Thank you to all who donate these items.  They make a difference!

One donor has been able to purchase the bulk ingredient items through a local restaurant at a steep discount.  The restaurant is Tapatio in Newcastle.  If you ever can, please patronize their restaurant as a way of saying thanks for their support.  Thank you for this extra effort, Karen.

Thanks for your prayers!  They are needed.  Keep going…
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH