MoneyFood & hunger
Help Samuel keep the Community Pantry pantry stocked
The Community Pantry pantry in Grand Rapids is running low just as demand rises; $2,700 will stock it for 7 weeks.
🇺🇸 United States1,521 views
Since 2021, our volunteer team has run Community Pantry every Saturday from the back of the parish hall. We started with 20 families, and now we feed 174 each week.
Donations have dropped by about 53% this summer, while the line has grown every single week.
We rely on volunteers - 17 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Grand Rapids market and keep every receipt.
Each $25 feeds a family of four for a week.
I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday.
Where the $2,700 goes:
• Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $840
• Fresh vegetables and fruit: $1,200
• Baby formula and diapers: $300
• Refrigeration and electricity: $360
You're what makes this possible, and I'll never forget it.
Updates from Samuel
Quick update: $85 raised so far (3%). we've booked the dates and paid the deposit. Receipts coming as soon as I have them.
- Samuel Brian Kipchoge 🇺🇬 · $27
- Mousumi Tithi Miah 🇧🇩 · $50
“Take care of yourselves. Been where you are, it gets better. - Dhaka”
- Kato Maina Waweru 🇹🇿 · $20
“Hang in there. Hope the November deadline works out. - Arusha”
- Mutua Joseph Karanja 🇰🇪 · $10
- Graciela W. Macías 🇲🇽 · $25
“Keep your head up. Thought of Samuel all day after reading this. - Ciudad de México”
- Nova Whitaker 🇺🇸 · $50
“Every little bit. Thought of Samuel all day after reading this. - San Francisco”
- Vichai Chai Wattana 🇹🇭 · $10
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Sending good thoughts. Your post was clear and honest. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Blessings.
Hope things get better soon, Samuel. Great idea, hope you get there. Take care.
Sending good thoughts, Samuel. Hope you get there. My husband and I read this together.
I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Love from Soweto.
Stay strong, Samuel. Hope this works out for you. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Blessings
Sending strength. More neighborhoods should do this. Sent it to 32 people at work
Your post was clear and honest. Greetings from Bengaluru
Praying for you, Samuel. Your post was clear and honest. My husband and I read this together!
Sending strength, Samuel. Shared this with my family. Love from Los Angeles.
You're not alone, Samuel. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected. God bless.
Take care, Samuel. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. Thinking of Grand Rapids
Keep going. Your post was clear and honest. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend
sending good thoughts, Samuel. Looking forward to the next update. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it.