It’s that difficult time of year for food pantries—after the holidays and before really good weather and food drives. The food pantry at University Presbyterian Church (UPC), which serves people in our area, needs our help.

Usually the easiest way for us to help is to send a check from either the Mission budget or the Turkey Basket Fund. But not this year. The Mission budget has been greatly reduced and although we still will be using excess funds in the Turkey Basket Fund for hunger-related needs, everything is going to have to go further, a lot further. And then there is the big question of the federal budget.

Therefore the Mission Committee is asking the congregation of North Church to respond as they always have to specific needs. We need you to add the food pantry to your grocery shopping list and to purchase something(s) every week. Especially needed are: cereal, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce and pasta, canned tuna, and canned vegetables and fruit. If you buy it and bring it to church with you on Sunday, the Mission Committee will take our donations to UPC. Thank you as always for your overwhelming generosity.