Groceries for Families: Week 6 - Day 2

Today was a very smooth day, and it feels good.  So much going on and, yet, calm and fun.  Last night at home I felt giddy with anticipation of coming here today, knowing so many great things are happening each day.  The weather was lovely today, which is always nice.

Westminister Chapel Delivery

Creekside Covenant Church Delivery

White-board

Today’s groceries came from Creekside Covenant, Westminster Chapel, Cornerstone, and Crossroads Bible churches.  To the right is a picture of our whiteboard, which we use to keep track of things. 

A total of 146 orders came in and all but five went out to families today, including 9 deliveries. 

Lots and lots of hygiene items and diapers went out today.  Thank you to all who help keep that inventory stocked.  The market was light compared to what we often have, but it had plenty to choose from (picture below).

Redeemer Church did a second bulk item drive today at Crossroads Bible church and delivered a few carloads of goods at 5:30 pm tonight.  Thank you so much for this extra effort!

Hygiene & Diapers

A second carport was delivered today, donated by a local couple, and was quickly assembled.  We now have 40’ of covered space extending from the building.  Such a gift!  Thank you.

Assembling the carport

Second Carport!

One email from a family to share:

Muchas gracias por la ayuda que nos dan de corazón mi familia y yo les agradecemos😊😍👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Thank you so much for the help you are giving us. From our heart, my family and I, we thank you😊😍

It feels like a tidal wave of momentum is washing over this program.  There is a lot of energy coming behind it, giving us full wind in the sails.  Thank you for trusting us to steward your resources.  Together, we are staying on the path we are all called to be on.  Keep praying!

Blessings to you all,

Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

Groceries for Families: Week 6 - Day 1

Today begins week 6…hard to believe.  So much has happened in that time.  I look at the older pictures and laugh at all the things done better and different now.

The weather today was all over the place.  Plenty of sun but constantly breezy.  Then the rain came in the middle of the families picking up.  We couldn’t break out the canopies because the wind was strong.  Such as it is!

CityHill Church Delivery

Rain City Church Delivery

Groceries today were brought by Bellevue Christian Reformed, 24-Seven, Sacred Heart, Lighthouse, Rain City, Common Good, and CityHill Bellevue churches.  A total of 135 orders were delivered and all but 16 were passed out, including 20 deliveries.  The 16 were mainly new families starting in the program today, whom we think got confused.  We are working to get them to come tomorrow.

Lots of bulk hygiene and food items were brought by shoppers today.  Everyone seemed to have extra things to add.  Thank you!  The diaper supply here is stronger than ever.  Size 6 and all Pull-Ups continue to be in the highest demand.

Today families were able to get diapers & baby wipes, as well as pet food and three personal hygiene items.  Much of the stock brought in late last week is starting to go out.  Thank you to all who continue to fill the pantry.

This came to me as a hand-written note from a family:  

Jubilee REACH! Thank you so much for all your hard work in feeding all the families you support through this organization.  May God strengthen you with energy and fill you with His Love, as you boldly love others.

This email came from Judy at the Bellevue School District to Randy Eng: (shared with permission)

Some days it is hard to find hope with what is going on in our world… I find hope and strength from your staff and yes, the nature God has created for us to enjoy.

I had a Dark-Eyed Junko nest I have been observing and found mom still sitting on her eggs staring at me, while her mate was scolding me to get back to work…

With all joking aside, thank you, everyone, for when I talk to you in person you always ask about me and how I am doing… You all are a blessing to me and hold you all close to my heart!  My regards to Mrs. Eng, also…. Please stay safe!

Carport

The carport which went up in the rain on Saturday was reinforced today.  It was put up on cinder blocks to get it higher than the doors, so it could be tight to the building.  Ropes were added to stabilize it from the wind.  See picture to the right. 
So great!

Families were added to the program from the waiting list beginning today.  Current families in the program are about 454, each coming twice weekly.  We also eliminated 35 families from the program who weren’t coming consistently enough.

Thank you for your continued partnership and love of this program.  It is critical to the lives of these families, and we all need to sustain it together.

Have a good evening,

Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

Groceries for Families: Week 5 - Day 6

Despite the weather, today was a very smooth day with such a great crew.  Saturdays are hard, because we aim to get about 3-4 hours of work done in 1 hour, so we can be done at noon.  Thanks to the churches for the very prompt delivery of groceries to help make this possible.

Today’s groceries were delivered by Evangelical Chinese and Bellevue Presbyterian churches.  A total of 94 orders were delivered and all went out to families, including 3 deliveries by Alleigha.  Thank you!

Deliveries came in the pouring rain.  A carport was purchased by a generous donor, and our crew worked hard & quickly in the rain today to get it built.  What a difference it made immediately!  The final deliveries were able to be under shelter.  Families were well protected while receiving their orders. 

Wow, thank you, Dean and Sharleen! 

Installing carport

As I do each Saturday, here’s a look at statistics to date:

• Program Days: 30

• Families currently in the program: 385+

• People in these families: 1732 (approximate)

• Grocery orders delivered: 2520

• Churches & Organizations engaged: 25

• Different shoppers participating: 600 (approximate)

Next week, 24-Seven Church will begin bringing groceries on Monday.  Welcome!

New families will be added from the waiting list next week, beginning Monday.  Thank you to all of you who were able to increase your grocery order commitment.  Each new order means one more family can be added.  Thank you!

Today is the end of the 5th week of this program from the original eight-week commitment.  I’ll be communicating next week about what we’re looking at after week eight ends on May 16.  Watch for that.

Thank you for your continued prayers.  Please pray for the families.  Pray for our crew which serves each day.  Pray that the virus stays out of Jubilee REACH.  It is not welcome here!

Thank you for your continued giving.  Your time and treasure are going to direct need in our local community and making a huge difference in the lives of so many people.

I love this program.  I love all that it does.  I love that we are doing it together.  It feels exactly where we are all supposed to be right now.

Tomorrow is a day of rest. 

Rest well, my friends.

Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

P.S.  Here’s a time-lapse from today.  In it, you’ll see the grocery deliveries coming in, with cars in the rain, and the lobby starts to fill.  Then you’ll see the white carport go up.  Then you’ll see families line up and groceries start to go out.  Enjoy!

Groceries for Families: Week 5 - Day 5

April 24, 2020

Today was just a lovely day.  The weather was warm but cloudy.  It was very busy with families, but a very smooth operation.  Lots and lots of deliveries of groceries and bulk items.  It just feels so good to see so many people involved in supporting the vulnerable people in this community.  I wish you all could see what I see daily.  I hope this email helps.

Groceries today came from Crossroads Bible, Evangelical Chinese, Covenant Presbyterian, and Westminster Chapel churches.  A total of 125 orders were delivered and all of them went out to families, including 17 via delivery by Daniel.  Attached is a note awaiting Daniel from one of the delivery families.  May your heart melt all over…

Thank you to all who brought personal hygiene and bulk food deliveries.  The inventory has been replenished and the diaper stock is rock solid.  It goes fast, especially size 6 and pull-ups.  You all are beyond generous, and it is a true blessing to provide these to families who cannot afford them right now.  Thank you!

More box lunches were provided by the Bellevue School District.  We were able to share 125 of them with Attain Housing, which was great.  The remaining will go out tomorrow.  Thank you!

A large box of Spanish books was donated last week and made it into the market today.  They were very popular.  Thank you!

An email from a family who received a delivery:

Hola Daniel un millon de gracias me trajo la comida una linda persona que Dios lo bendiga a todos las personas generosas de gran corazon que Jesucristo los usa para ayudar en este tiempo de crisis que el Sr. Todopoderoso les multiplique y les cuide a todo lo suyo su salud su finanzas su familia etc.etc.y a los trabadores tambien que Dios los proteja porque estan arriesgando sus vidas.😍😍😌

Hello Daniel, one million thanks. A very kind person brought me food. May God bless all the generous people with a big heart that Jesus Christ uses to help in this time of crisis. May the almighty Lord multiply and care for all of you, in your health, finances, family, etc. And the workers as well, may God protect you because you are risking your lives😍😍😌

A summary by Daniel from a new Preschool family in the program:

In the end, a couple of families shared how thankful they were for the essentials we are providing because those are basic needs. They also said how families also feel very welcomed when they go. One of the people that shared said that she asks her friends, "Have you written your thank-you note yet?" Or she'll say something like, "Hey, just like you've been helped, make sure you help them."

Tomorrow will mark the end of week 6.  Time rolls along.  This program is humming, thanks so much to all of you and your connections.  You are the heartbeat of this incredible program.

If you haven’t had a tour yet, come see me soon.  Come in the morning or late afternoon.  If you want to see the action, come at 12:30pm.  You are invited.

Sleep well,

Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

Groceries for Families: Week 5 - Day 4

April 23, 2020

The weather was so much better today.  We set up all the canopies, just in case, but it also allowed them all to dry from yesterday.  Even the sun came out, which warmed the whole yard up.

Delivering groceries today were Doxa, Kalos, Sacred Heart, Overlake Park Presbyterian, and Redeemer churches.  A total of 100 orders were brought and all of them went out to families, including four by delivery. 

Thank you to all of you who continue to bring diapers, especially the larger sizes and pull-ups.  All are needed and make such a difference for families.  We divide the larger packs into smaller units, to make the go further.  Thank you!

Boxed Lunch Delivery

The Bellevue School District delivered 250 box lunches, donated by Microsoft.  Most were distributed out through the market today.  More will come tomorrow.  Thank you!

As I reported yesterday, laundry detergent was offered to all the families.  Here are some fun numbers to go with it.  A total of 3,820 detergent pods were given out, in sets of 20 each, along with 60 containers of liquid detergent.  One very large bucket of Costco powder detergent went to one woman with 7 children.  One very large container of liquid Costco detergent went to a family of 9 people.  Everyone was happy!

Sam (Volunteer) with buik items

Today, bulk foods were offered to everyone: rice, flour, sugar, salt, pinto beans.  Thank you to all who have provided it all!  Here’s a total of the weight for each item as given to families through last Saturday, so four weeks:

• 805 lbs. of flour 

• 1,185 lbs. of rice

• 498 lbs. of pinto beans

• 494 lbs. of sugar

• 200 lbs. of salt

A few emails from families to share:

Querida Daniel, Primeramente, muchas gracias por haber provisto alimentos a nuestra familia. Mi familia esta muy agradecido por lo que ha hecho por nosotros. Esta ayuda ha sido de gran bendicion ya que todo los miembro de mi familia perdimos trabajo y por ende, sufrimos ansiedad y preocupacion. Con esta ayuda, hemos respirado tranquilidad y paz. Gracias por todo y que Dios le bendiga a usted y a la organizacion de Jubilee REACH.  De mucho corazon y bendiciones. -Gerson

Dear Daniel, First of all, thank you for providing food for our family. My family is very thankful for what you have done for us. This help has been a great blessing, especially because every member of my family has lost their job and because of it, we suffer from anxiousness and worry. With this help, we can breathe with tranquility and peace. Thank you for everything and may God bless you and Jubilee REACH. With much love and blessing. -Gerson

 Hola buenas tardes como estas? Para escribir una nota de agradecimiento a las personas que estan ayudando con comida en jubilee lo ago por aquí? Que pases un bonito fín de semana

Hello, good afternoon, how are you? I just wanted to write a note of thanks to the people who are helping with food at Jubilee. Have a good weekend.

Week 5 continues to roll.  The operation is running smoothly and those doing all the shopping are flat out fantastic. 

Thanks for all the love and support. 

You are all awesome and give me such energy! 
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH

Groceries for Families: Week 5 - Day 3

April 22, 2020

We got wet today…very wet.  The heavy stuff waited until exactly 1:00 pm to come down.  Fortunately, we had five extra canopies loaned to us this week, so we’re able to give the first 13 spots in line some shelter, while still using the cones for safety spacing.  See below for pictures shows the layout of canopies.

Groceries today were delivered by Bellevue Presbyterian, Highland Covenant, St. Louise Parish, and Bellevue Christian Reformed churches.  A total of 84 orders came in and all of them went out to families.  We thought the rain would keep people away.  Fewer than ever came at 1:00pm, which is when the rain was hard.  When it let up at 2:15pm, the rest of them came.  It was a great day, despite the wet.

The remaining laundry detergent went out today, which means every family in the program was offered detergent this week.  It was VERY popular.  We will continue to collect it in the coming weeks and hope to do it again soon.

Lunches were delivered to home-bound senior citizens yesterday by Barb and her crew.  Here’s a note from one of them to me yesterday: “Please thank the cooks for delicious lunches.  Today it was a noodle casserole.  Was it the fact that it brought back memories of a forgotten era? Home cooking? Or was it the fact that it was very tasty?  Whatever it was, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to all!!  Dorothy”.

A nice email from a family to share:

Hola Daniel soy mariana solo para agradecerles por tan lindo jesto a si a mi familia por tan bendecida ayuda mi esposo no trabaja somos 4 de familia el sostenía la casa el alimento y tenemos un niño con discapacidad y ahora con lo de cobi 19 estamos en casa dile a cada persona que dios se lo multiplique y nosotros se los agradecemos muchas gracias a todas las personas que an donado su tiempo para ayudarnos y gracias a ti Daniel por todo bendiciones.  De parte de toda mi 👪  mil gracias

Hello Daniel, I am Mariana. Just want to thank you for the beautiful gesture towards my family with the blessed help. My husband is not working. We are a family of 4. He sustained the house, the food, and we have a kiddo with disabilities and now with COVID-19 we are at home. Tell every person that God may multiply and we thank you. Thank you to all the people who are giving their time the help us and thank you, Daniel, for everything. Blessings. On behalf of all my family. A thousand thanks.

An email back from Bellevue Presbyterian Church:

Shopping for groceries on Wednesdays and Saturdays has been a great experience for us at BelPres.  This initially gave us the opportunity to express love and compassion for families impacted by the COVID pandemic by buying groceries.  But it quickly evolved into something more.  We have found that our people are enjoying the opportunity to get outside of their homes and to connect -maintaining social distancing - with other people.  Checking in and briefly catching up with other church attenders and staff during the brief 3-5 minute drop off period, is a blessing for our folks.  It’s been a great time of encouragement and community building in a season of social isolation.  Thank you for such a great opportunity to serve and be served!  

Me (Ken) in the rain

Thanks for all the work you’re doing to support this program.  I hope these daily emails give you insight into the operation and stories to share with others.

Stay dry and healthy!
Ken Carpenter
Service Coordinator, Jubilee REACH