As ‘08 began, the USDA and local food bank drastically cut back the amount of free or inexpensive food we could get to fill our boxes for 850 families a month. To make up the difference, we had to pay as much as $10,000 a month to replace food we once got for free. Our costs went up 500%.
Then our director --Dan -- took a job in Minneapolis …. but he kept managing food giveaways by phone, fax, email and weekend trips back to South Florida. His wife and co-director – Jacquie -- took on more of the work including managing our 6 employees such as Michael Fequeire.
Then one of our 2 refrigerated trucks was struck and badly damaged by a drunken driver. It was unavailable for months. As the economy worsened, more and more families needed help. Thus, we had to go deeply into debt to buy the food we needed.
And, Gale Martin, who supervises our produce recovery program, had to fight another battle with cancer. But God blessed us, our volunteers worked hard and Gale healed. And, Praise God, we had our best year ever.
Our trucks transported more than 3 million lbs. of foodfor 100+ local churches and non-profits. And, we didn’t charge them a dime. This helped tens of thousands of people to eat. Our team saved more than 1 million poundsof corn, green beans and squash from being plowed under in the fields near Belle Glade. And, we gave it away free to the needy.
Our Share food cooperative allowed 150 families a month to save on nutritious food they otherwise could not afford. And, we gave them a free box of canned goods, too. We averaged giving out boxes of free food to more than 850 families a month Jan. through Oct. Families would wait hours for food. Most of our recipients are single moms with 3 or more children. The next largest group is senior citizens, many of whom are raising abandoned grandchildren.
At the holidays we signed up thousands of new families for help. Most of our recipients are unemployed or under-employed. Many are alone, some are sick and more than a few are dying. We feed families of all races and religions from all across Palm Beach County. If they are hungry – we feed them.We fed 3,900 families (over 16,000 people) at Thanksgiving, including helping deliver 900 meals to shut-ins. At Christmas, we fed about 3,000 families and gave toys (some seen below) to about 2,000 children. Gwen Hicks hand-made 180+ stuffed animals to give to babies. And, we provided food and toys to 30 small missions and churches that could not afford to do it themselves.
Through generous donations
and gifts of food and free use of trucks, by the end of the year we had paid
off all but about $8,000 of our debt. In early 2009, ALL of our debt was paid.
We hope you find this as uplifting as we do…
In Christ’s Love,
Dan & Jacquie Shorter
If you would like to support this ministry, you can make a Donation today using your credit card by clicking here.
Or you can mail a check or money order made payable to Village Baptist to:
Dan Shorter
8306 155th Place North
PBG, FL 33418
Questions: 561-398-2828
To get on the Friends of the Food Ministry email list, email daneshorter@yahoo.com and request to be added.