Daily Reflection | Connected in Christ

Friday, November 11, 2022

Gather

Susan “Sooky” Lassen

"And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites" - St Luke 21:1-2

Jesus was sitting in the temple, and he was surrounded by people. The temple was packed, people, children animals noise distraction. It has often occurred to me … How could Jesus possibly have noticed the poor widow. But He did.

It is a bit like that at Gather now, the food pantry is packed, people, children, noise, distraction (but so far no animals). The staff, and volunteers notice…really notice the people who come to Gather, now more than ever. Healthy food is offered to a growing number of families each day, and all indicators show that this will continue through the winter.

Gather is experiencing higher demand than ever at their community food pantry this season, and winter is right around the corner. Please consider helping with donations of pantry items and self-care products. There will be bins available to drop donations at St. John's on Sundays Nov. 13 & 20.

FALL 2022 WISH LIST:

  • Condiments (ketchup, relish, mustard)

  • Ready-to-serve soup

  • Side dishes (Pasta-roni, Hamburger Helper)

  • Canned meat (tuna, chicken)

  • Oil, flour & sugar

  • Coffee & tea

  • Pasta & pasta sauce

  • Personal Care Items: Shampoo/Conditioner, bar soap, toothpaste

  • Home Items: Toilet paper, dish soap, sponges, laundry detergent

  • Monetary donations gratefully accepted. Checks made out to GATHER.

Did you know:

  • Gather is the oldest social service agency in the country, founded in 1816 by fishermen's wives in Strawbery Banke

  • Gather served approximately 2,000 members (all food recipients referred to with dignity, as members) a month prior to COVID, today we serve an average of 9,000 members a month

  • Gather serves members from over 55 Greater Seacoast towns ranging from Portsmouth to Rochester, Seabrook to Kittery

  • The number of people served in the last three months vs the same months last year increased 52%

  • Volunteers logged a whopping 15,819 hours from January through September 2022. Gather is dependent on 250 volunteers EVERY month!

  • 38% of older adults in NH are food insecure an increase of 30,000 (40%) in one month, from August to September 2022

  • Over 184,000 NH households with children had insufficient food in September, an increase of nearly 37,000 (+25%) vs. August

Our gifts to Gather from St John’s over the next two Sundays will indeed be noticed. Thank you.