Emily and I have known our neighbor Fred for over five years, slowly forming a connection in the times Emily and I sat on our front stoop. He was always walking to the store and passing us on his way back.

It wasn’t long after that… Food Outreach launched to became a sort of healthy routine for Fred. Every Tuesday we could count on him to be at our front stoop by 6am.

Extra credit for being so punctual, Fred!

“I wanted to help Pastor John because he always helps us,” Fred recently said as I asked him why he’d arrive before anyone else.

Fred has lived in our community for a long time, long before the Greenhouse Project launched.

Over the years, the reality of economic hardships have made “making ends meet” for his wife, children and grandkids an impossibility.

Fred tells me it’s harder to make dollars stretch than ever before…
“Without this food, I don't know how I could survive.”

I asked Fred about his hope for this holiday season and he said,
“I'm not going to celebrate the holidays this year, I just cant afford it.”

We’ve come to understand that so many more families are like Freds, struggling to survive. People in our own community might not be able to celebrate.

Thanks to your generosity, a full Thanksgiving meal is already secured for Fred, blessing his whole family with the nourishing love of Jesus in action!

For over a decade now, I’ve watched how consistent food outreach changes lives having cooked and served full 3-course meals to the homeless in Chester through another ministry and more recently at Greenhouse.

Food outreach expresses dignity and deep care for others in need.

Food outreach is an inroad for deeper, approachable ministry moments, causing us to slow down over an essential part of daily life common to all.

Food outreach connects us to inclusive customs like prayer, conversation, sharing and joy.

Food brings us all together in a way few things do.

No matter how you’re preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, thank you for slowing down to care for our neighbors with the love of Christ.

You give a neighbor like Fred something significant to celebrate this year!

give a holiday meal