Epworth United Methodist Church Annual Reverse Advent Event 2021
It is time for our annual Reverse Advent Event here at Epworth. This event provides needed items for our food pantry that is an essential part of our mobile food outreach. The idea is rather than having an Advent calendar where for each day in Advent a treat is given, for each day a food or household item is added to an Advent box to be donated to our mobile food pantry. Donation boxes are available in the narthex.
In the past, boxes were provided for storing goods to be donated. Included with the boxes was a list of suggestions for needed items and people would pick up a few extra items when doing their grocery shopping (Bold print designates most needed):
- Proteins:
- Spam
- Tuna
- Canned Chicken
- Vienna Sausage
- Ready to Serve:
- Chef-Boyardee products
- Dinty Moore Beef Stew
- Canned Chili
- Canned soups (e.g. Progresso)
- Misc. dry and canned goods
- Canned Fruit
- Apple Sauce
- Oatmeal
- Pancake mix and syrup
- Potato and Rice side dishes (pouches or boxes)
- Baked Beans
- Canned Vegetables (corn, green beans, peas, mixed veggies, etc.)
- Canned Beans (kidney, black, etc.)
- Pasta/Spaghetti Sauce
- Ramen Noodles
- Powdered Milk
- Ketchup, mustard, mayo
- Cereal
- Mac & Cheese
- Household goods
- Paper towels
- Laundry detergent
- Dish detergent
- Toilet paper
- Household cleaners
This year along with the list of needs we are suggesting that people may donate a “theme” box of items. For example, a breakfast box might contain cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, toaster pastries, breakfast bars and other items that would help provide a good breakfast.
Other themes might include:
- soups, condensed, ready to eat
- ready to eat meals: beef stew and Chef Boyardee, mac and cheese
- beans: baked beans, kidney beans, black beans, and dry beans, international foods: pasta, pasta sauce, Mexican foods, Ramen noodles
- snacks: crackers, cookies, treats
- baking goods: sugar, flour, cake and cookie mixes,
- household needs: soaps, detergents, paper towels, toilet paper
- canned fruit: sliced peaches, sliced pears, apple sauce
- protein: Spam, canned chicken, tuna, Vienna sausage
- canned vegetables: corn, green beans, peas, mixed vegetables, potatoes
- extras: peanut butter, jams and jellies, salad dressings, mayo, ketchup
- drinks: juice boxes and pouches, boxed milk, powdered milk
- canned tomato: diced, stewed, sauce, paste
Many thanks to Tom and Cathie Lewis!