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What if I wanted to set up a church emergency food pantry for when the supply line shuts down?

A few of us at church have been having a discussion about what would happen if the food supply lines shuts down later in August as some have predicted and the stores had no food. I know that we have quite a few people who are aware and have stocked up and are ready to hunker down and wait it out for 2, 3 or more months. I also know that we have a lot of people who live paycheck to paycheck and don't have the extra money to put anything extra up. These are the people in our church who will need help.

So I approached our elders and suggested that we set up a food supply, at the church, for our church family for when/if things go bad. I was met with enthusiasm but then was tasked to present the idea and a plan to the elder table when they meet on Monday. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap.

I am well versed on setting up my preps at home and have done the same thing for the last 30 years or so. Setting up something for an unknown number of people, who may not have electricity or running water (think hurricane, EMP blast, hacking of essential services or just general no goods in the pipeline). We have a regular food pantry that anyone can come to and get pre-made boxes of food but there is paperwork and some religious discussion. What I foresee is setting up a storage area with non-perishable foods to be distributed to church family members if that shut down does occur.

Anyone have any good ideas on how best to sell the idea to the elders? Any idea on where to get gross quantities of canned and boxed good at good prices (I'm going to Sam's today to help top off my stores and will be pricing stuff). I don't know if it is best to ask for donations from church members of cash, or is it better to ask them to bring canned goods. Probably cash is better as we would have better control over what we get and not 400 cans of canned pumpkin left over from Thanksgiving.

I checked the usual suspects, CDC, Red Cross, LDS church and didn't come up with ideas that work for us.

Wise words? Forget the whole idea? Step out smartly and march on?

I really feel something is coming soon. It may be the rapture in which case I'll leave a lot of good stuff at home and at the church for the folks that don't go to enjoy while they can. It might be limited items, limited store hours and limited access to cash and banking. It may be World War IV. Something is happening. Many people are feeling it.

Thanks
Start now. Your church probably has folks that need a leg up every once in a while. Our church started a food closet. Before the Wuhan attacked, we would announce what food stuffs (all shelf stable) were needed. Pretty soon we had quite a inventory. We rotated stock as used and were able to help folks that fell on hard times. As things got short, we’d tell the congregation what was needed. Most folks are good people, and will be able to help in small amounts without worry even when things get limited at the store. When that is spread across a congregation, no one has to feel the pinch to help others.

For meat and fresh foods… We had the congregation donate gift cards that could be used to purchase those. When stuff is short, this did not fix it all, but we did what we could. The common gift was $25 gift cards.

we made the Pastor the point of contact. This provided those who needed to ask a semblance of discretion so they wouldn’t be embarrassed to ask. It also allowed the Pastor to identify folks who chronically needed financial help so their needs could be addressed with counseling and guidance. It also mitigated abuse by those that would take advantage of peoples’ generosity.

Did not address the possibility of government confiscation. Frankly, if that is a possibility, then there are bigger problems. I would think smaller caches amounts across the congregation to mitigate that threat.
 
Community Food Banks are better equipped it's best to partner with them and create 'a plan'! There are many here in North Georgia, Must Ministries, Papa's Pantry and Atlanta Community Food Bank. We partner with a local church who are set up to provide to the current needy!

PS Sorry, but there will not be a 'rapture' (or taking away of the church) it's not even in the bible! If you are referring to the passage in Matthew 24: 40-41 for example (I recommend reading this in the Passion Translation with the additional footnotes of explanation), but here it is in the Amplified:

“But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man (the Messiah) will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be [unexpected judgment]. 40 At that time two men will be in the field; one will be [h]taken [for judgment] and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.

So the question is, who was taken and for what? Do you want to be taken or do you want to be left? This doctrine was introduced into the church in the early 1900's I believe, it's resulted in the church being apathetic and complacent instead of 'occupying until I come (and He takes over with us). We were meant for the earth not heaven and there will be a new heaven and a new earth (also a thousand years of peace).

This is not meant to offend, but help, but if it's unacceptable to you or others, no offense - but do check what you are taught to ensure it comes from the Holy Spirit of truth. Thanks for the opportunity to express all this.
 
Don't forget to stock bags and boxes so folks can carry the stuff home with them.
We prepped 100 meals (50 breakfast and 50 lunch/dinner). We call them SM42 (small meals for 2). Each one is in a gallon zip lock back. Church staff, along with elders and deacons know where they are and what they are for. They are free to hand them out as needed with the plan to let me know when we get down to 10 or so of each so I can create more.

I brought in a lot (LOT) of Walmart bags since I hoard them from shopping. Anyone getting one or two or however many meals can take them home in Walmart bags so there is no indication of what it is and no possible embarrassment from picking up food from a church.

Now I'm working on gathering up 500 hotdogs and buns, 500 bags of chips and 500 bottles of water for our church Trunk or Treat on 10/30. Last year we gave out 300 and we are expecting 500 this year. After preparing the meals I'll be sitting up a "scary tent" where the kids will have to go inside, past the hanging bats and spiders and spider webs to get to the skeleton pirate and his treasure chest, and smoking cauldron where they can pick up their loot (candy and plastic doubloons). We will also have a game with a witches broom that scurries all over the room and you toss rings at it to win prizes. The whole concept went really well last year but a lot of scary stuff is in short supply this years.

If you have kids and want to travel to Dallas on 10/30 5p - 7p come on by. Bethany Christian Church, Dallas, GA
 
We prepped 100 meals (50 breakfast and 50 lunch/dinner). We call them SM42 (small meals for 2). Each one is in a gallon zip lock back. Church staff, along with elders and deacons know where they are and what they are for. They are free to hand them out as needed with the plan to let me know when we get down to 10 or so of each so I can create more.

I brought in a lot (LOT) of Walmart bags since I hoard them from shopping. Anyone getting one or two or however many meals can take them home in Walmart bags so there is no indication of what it is and no possible embarrassment from picking up food from a church.

Now I'm working on gathering up 500 hotdogs and buns, 500 bags of chips and 500 bottles of water for our church Trunk or Treat on 10/30. Last year we gave out 300 and we are expecting 500 this year. After preparing the meals I'll be sitting up a "scary tent" where the kids will have to go inside, past the hanging bats and spiders and spider webs to get to the skeleton pirate and his treasure chest, and smoking cauldron where they can pick up their loot (candy and plastic doubloons). We will also have a game with a witches broom that scurries all over the room and you toss rings at it to win prizes. The whole concept went really well last year but a lot of scary stuff is in short supply this years.

If you have kids and want to travel to Dallas on 10/30 5p - 7p come on by. Bethany Christian Church, Dallas, GA

This brings a big smile to my face. Do you take donations?
 
Don't forget to stock bags and boxes so folks can carry the stuff home with them.
Honesty, if someone can't find something to take the stuff back with them, they aren't long for this world.
-backpack, luggage, rubbermaid/totes, duffle bag, bags/boxes from street, radio flyer wagon, baby stroller, shopping cart...
 
A few of us at church have been having a discussion about what would happen if the food supply lines shuts down later in August as some have predicted and the stores had no food. I know that we have quite a few people who are aware and have stocked up and are ready to hunker down and wait it out for 2, 3 or more months. I also know that we have a lot of people who live paycheck to paycheck and don't have the extra money to put anything extra up. These are the people in our church who will need help.

So I approached our elders and suggested that we set up a food supply, at the church, for our church family for when/if things go bad. I was met with enthusiasm but then was tasked to present the idea and a plan to the elder table when they meet on Monday. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap.

I am well versed on setting up my preps at home and have done the same thing for the last 30 years or so. Setting up something for an unknown number of people, who may not have electricity or running water (think hurricane, EMP blast, hacking of essential services or just general no goods in the pipeline). We have a regular food pantry that anyone can come to and get pre-made boxes of food but there is paperwork and some religious discussion. What I foresee is setting up a storage area with non-perishable foods to be distributed to church family members if that shut down does occur.

Anyone have any good ideas on how best to sell the idea to the elders? Any idea on where to get gross quantities of canned and boxed good at good prices (I'm going to Sam's today to help top off my stores and will be pricing stuff). I don't know if it is best to ask for donations from church members of cash, or is it better to ask them to bring canned goods. Probably cash is better as we would have better control over what we get and not 400 cans of canned pumpkin left over from Thanksgiving.

I checked the usual suspects, CDC, Red Cross, LDS church and didn't come up with ideas that work for us.

Wise words? Forget the whole idea? Step out smartly and march on?

I really feel something is coming soon. It may be the rapture in which case I'll leave a lot of good stuff at home and at the church for the folks that don't go to enjoy while they can. It might be limited items, limited store hours and limited access to cash and banking. It may be World War IV. Something is happening. Many people are feeling it.

Thanks
Something is coming..try canning yourself, meats, dehydrate your veggies, can also...u need a place for garden space, and to grow meat for food, rabbits, chickens, goats etc...quit thinking about buying foods, because these supply chains will be cut off!
 
A few of us at church have been having a discussion about what would happen if the food supply lines shuts down later in August as some have predicted and the stores had no food. I know that we have quite a few people who are aware and have stocked up and are ready to hunker down and wait it out for 2, 3 or more months. I also know that we have a lot of people who live paycheck to paycheck and don't have the extra money to put anything extra up. These are the people in our church who will need help.

So I approached our elders and suggested that we set up a food supply, at the church, for our church family for when/if things go bad. I was met with enthusiasm but then was tasked to present the idea and a plan to the elder table when they meet on Monday. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap.

I am well versed on setting up my preps at home and have done the same thing for the last 30 years or so. Setting up something for an unknown number of people, who may not have electricity or running water (think hurricane, EMP blast, hacking of essential services or just general no goods in the pipeline). We have a regular food pantry that anyone can come to and get pre-made boxes of food but there is paperwork and some religious discussion. What I foresee is setting up a storage area with non-perishable foods to be distributed to church family members if that shut down does occur.

Anyone have any good ideas on how best to sell the idea to the elders? Any idea on where to get gross quantities of canned and boxed good at good prices (I'm going to Sam's today to help top off my stores and will be pricing stuff). I don't know if it is best to ask for donations from church members of cash, or is it better to ask them to bring canned goods. Probably cash is better as we would have better control over what we get and not 400 cans of canned pumpkin left over from Thanksgiving.

I checked the usual suspects, CDC, Red Cross, LDS church and didn't come up with ideas that work for us.

Wise words? Forget the whole idea? Step out smartly and march on?

I really feel something is coming soon. It may be the rapture in which case I'll leave a lot of good stuff at home and at the church for the folks that don't go to enjoy while they can. It might be limited items, limited store hours and limited access to cash and banking. It may be World War IV. Something is happening. Many people are feeling it.

Thanks
The U.S is a empire like all before it. This is how it collapsed, I remember in Moscow during the collapse of the Soviet Union there was no food people where starving on the streets. Germany also back in 44/45. But the richest people where ok and fine…WE HAVE BEEN DANCING WITH THE DEVIL FOR TO LONG… as a nation and letting people come to power who should of never came to power. May god forgive us and may god watch over us.
 
OCGA code section 38-3-51
says in a declared emergency
the State has the power...

"(2) To seize, take for temporary use, or condemn property for the protection of the public in accordance with condemnation proceedings as provided by law;

(3) To sell, lend, give, or distribute all or any such property among the inhabitants of the state and to account to the proper agency for any funds received for the property..."
"You'll own nothing and you will like it."
 
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