St. Joseph UMC helping those in need

People needing help feeding their families are getting one more option in the St. Joseph area.

Tonight, the Midwest Food Bank is joining with the St. Joseph United Methodist Church to help feed those in need.

Nada Cagle, who is helping organize the event, said it has been a long time coming.

“When we were talking over a year ago at a Missions team meeting, this idea came to mind, we talked about it and thought it was a good idea, but there were so many hoops to jump through, and many disappointments along the way, but the time is here,” Cagle said.

The church will host a monthly food distribution event on the first Thursday of each month.

Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. and the doors open for food distribution at 6 p.m. The event will last until 8 p.m. or until there is no more food.

Cagle said the St Joseph United Methodist Church Missions team helps with other food ministries. These include Meals on Wheels deliveries, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Canteen Run and providing money to purchase school lunches for students at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Cagle said the project is very important to her.

“My personal passion is food and making sure there is enough to eat, be it birds, pets and people,” she said. “My parents brought me up that way.”

When Cagle was a child a family friend, Louis Kaiser and his family, started the original Midwest Food Distribution Center.

“That has always been in my heart that there is plenty of food in our region, we just have to find a way to help get it to those in need,” Cagle said.

Cagle stressed the food distribution event is not in competition with the St. Joseph Community Food Bank but instead compliments the food bank and all the good they do in the community.

“We are an additional source of food for those in need,” she said. “One other thing about why churches do this, for our church in specific, by doing this we will surely create a closer bond amongst ourselves and to just get to know others in a different setting.”

Cagle said the event will help the working poor which often have to make the decision between groceries or paying bills. The event can also help those who just need temporary help due to an unexpected bill or illness.

“I think it is important for churches, or people in general to help those in need and to show love to our neighbors as we are instructed to do,” Cagle said. “Anyone in the community is welcome to help us, or stop by to see what we are doing.”

St. Joseph United Methodist Church is located at 205 N. Third Street in St. Joseph.

Those participating will be asked to provide a valid photo ID, proof of address and the number of people in their household.

This month the food is all non-perishable. Next month the group plans to have fresh fruits and vegetables and breads.

Eventually, they hope to provide frozen items and meats.

For more information call 217-621-7427.