"When did we see you hungry, Lord?"
Hunger is not just a Third World problem. Hunger does not discriminate. Young and elderly, black and white, male and female… the many faces of hunger are different, but the pain and the need are the same. For thousands in our community, hunger is one of life’s daily realities.
Through the Episcopal Hunger Relief Network, a cooperative network of anti-hunger ministries offered by many parishes within the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri and the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, the Episcopal Church serves more than 750,000 meals each year to the homeless and working poor in our community. Here are some of the programs that are thriving with volunteer help and financial support from people like you. For more information on the Episcopal Hunger Relief Network, call 816-561-8920.
The Network includes ministries such as …
Kansas City Community Kitchen
Meals on Wheels
Breakfast at St. Paul’s
Food Pantries
More People Seek Food From Pantries
More people don’t have enough to eat and the numbers seeking help to feed their families are increasing dramatically. Food pantries in the Episcopal Hunger Relief Network are striving to meet the increase in demand. This year, more people are coming to food pantries for the first time, joining those who are already regular clients.
The pantry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri, has seen a 30 percent increase in clients. And at St. Paul’s Neighborhood Pantry in Kansas City, Kansas, in the last four weeks alone nearly 300 households (including a household of eight and a family of six!) have come for groceries—64 of them for the first time.
What can you do to help?
Donate money, food or time.
Because we can buy food in bulk from Harvesters at a very low price, cash goes a long way. You can write a check to Episcopal Community Services, or directly to one of the pantries (click here for a list), or you can donate online.
If your parish doesn’t already support one of the food pantries in the Episcopal Hunger Relief Network, consider doing so. Call 816-561-8920 for help getting started.
You can organize a food drive at school, work or in your neighborhood to support the pantries. We can help!
If you have time to volunteer, contact us or one of our pantries and we’ll put you to work feeding the hungry.