Gratitude Giving in November

BLESSINGS BAGS

In an effort to represent the love of Christ to those experiencing homelessness in our community, we are creating "Blessings Bags.” Each "Blessings Bag" will contain travel size toiletries, cold weather clothing, snacks and a $5 restaurant gift card to help provide for their basic needs. We are asking for donations in kind to help fill the bags. For a list of needed items, please click here. Plan on dropping off items on Sunday, November 8th or Sunday November 15th from 9:00am to noon. Once filled, the bags will be made available to the congregation to give away as we encounter people in need throughout our community. For more information, please contact Lisa Lewis.



THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKETS

As we enter the month of November, we turn our thoughts toward Thanksgiving. It’s a time to reflect on our gratitude for God’s provision in our lives. We as a congregation are blessed to have our basic needs met daily. There are those, however, that are not as fortunate. It has been our tradition to collect canned food to make baskets to provide a helping hand at Thanksgiving. This year, because the need is great and due to COVID concerns, we will be doing our collection slightly different. From November 1st through November 20th we are asking each family to start a “Gratitude Box”. Daily scripture verses are available here for you to read as a family, after which you can spend a moment discussing something for which you are thankful. Then you will place an item from the food list in the box. Your “Gratitude Box” should be full of foods that can make a yummy Thanksgiving meal, as well as everyday food staples. We ask that your “Gratitude Box” be dropped off at church on Sunday, November 22nd between 9:00am and noon so that we can assemble baskets and distribute them before Thanksgiving. If you are unable to donate 20 days of food items, please just provide what you can. Also, if you are unable to drop off on Sunday, November 22nd, please contact the church office at 309-691-6322 or Lisa Lewis at 309-253-1916 to make other arrangements.


Daily Gratitude Box Suggested Food Items

  • Box of Stuffing
  • Box of Mashed Potato Mix
  • Jar of Gravy
  • Can of Cranberry Sauce
  • Can of Sweet Potatoes
  • 2 Cans of Corn – one Regular, one Creamed
  • Box of Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
  • 2 Boxes of Macaroni & Cheese
  • 2 Cans of Green Beans
  • 2 Cans of Soup – one Cream of Mushroom, one Tomato
  • 2 Cans of Fruit - one Peaches, one Pears
  • Box of Jell-O
  • Can of Pumpkin & Can of Evaporated Milk
  • Box of dessert mix (cake, cookies, brownies, etc)
  • Box of Pasta
  • Jar of Pasta Sauce
  • Jar of Applesauce
  • Jar of Peanut Butter & a Jar of Jelly
  • Package of Rice
  • Box of Cereal