TLC Food Pantry

December 28, 2019 – Hot Lunch Service Day

December 23, 2019December 23, 2019 TLC Food Pantry

Many hands working together – to share a meal.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
– James 2:15-17

This coming Saturday (12/28/19), TLC Food Pantry will be hosting a Hot Lunch prior to our regular Food Service Day. We have organized a large volunteer group to prepare a scrumptious hot meal: fresh turkey, ham, various vegetable dishes, mac & cheese, and plenty of holidays treats!!

Lunch Service will begin at 12:00. We will work to get the doors open around 11:30a.

Following lunch, we will also have our regular, monthly food shopping time. Two ‘TLC Food Pantry’ bags worth, plus extra fresh produce this month!! (If you have previously received our blue bags with our logo on it, please be sure to bring them back with you this month).

If you have never been to TLC before, we are at 501 Brookline Blvd, Havertown, PA 19083. There is some street parking along Brookline. HOWEVER – please be courteous of our neighbors and do not block any driveways or double-park. You are also able to use the lot behind the Senior Surrey Center (located one block away). When entering the building, you will follow the signs and enter through the courtyard entrance.

We sincerely hope you will join us on Saturday. All are welcome and if you know a friend, neighbor, colleague, or anyone perhaps down on his or her luck – please bring them with you or let them know how to find us.

We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year in 2020!!

January 2018 Service Day

January 25, 2019 TLC Food Pantry

I think it’s safe to acknowledge that this is often a tough time of year for many people. The holidays have passed, the weather continues to worsen, the days remain short, and it can seem like a long time until the promise of Spring arrives.

Across our Nation, this January has proven to be even more challenging for more than 800,000 of our brothers and sisters. The longest government shutdown in history has impacted so many the worst of ways.

If your family has been impacted due to the shutdown, we are here to help. Visitors to our Food Pantry are provided with two large bags of food, some paper goods, and produce/bread (when available). We typically have a wide variety of food choices including: pasta, canned fruit, soups, peanut butter, cereals, oatmeal, canned vegetables, beans, and snack bars.

We will be open this Saturday (1/26/19) from 1-3:00pm. We open the doors at 12:30p and should you arrive early, we ask that you remain in line (as we offer shopping based on order of arrival). If you are a furloughed government employee, please inform our staff when you check in.

Additional questions can be sent here: pantry@templelutheran.org

TLC Christmas 2018

January 25, 2019 TLC Food Pantry

Christmas and New Year’s may have come and gone, but their memories continue to fill us with warmth and appreciation for each other. This year we were blessed to serve 45 families!!

Bridget and Pat Keaveney led the way in the kitchen in preparing a wonderful meal. Turkey, ham, vegetables and some homemade treats to wrap up!

Once again, the Mission Partners at Temple Lutheran and our great neighbors throughout Havertown came through with toy donations for our Christmas Bazaar. Our recent confirmands did an incredible job getting all the gifts wrapped and labeled!

This was also the second year that we received a bountiful donation of various produce. Friends were able to leave with two bags of freshly picked goods.

The pantry room was packed all day and the foot traffic was non-stop. The bag boys hardly had a minute to catch their breath!

The TLC Food Pantry team wishes everyone a blessed New Year. We feel fortunate to have been able to assist so many this year and are looking forward to expanding our outreach in years to come.

TLC Christmas Lunch & Bazaar 2018

December 18, 2018December 18, 2018 TLC Food Pantry

It’s that most Wonderful Time of Year again. Of course time for all the family gatherings, the year-end work parties, the running around trying to get things done, and the preparations that never quite seem to get done. But also for the now 3rd Annual TLC Christmas Lunch & Bazaar!

The Keaveney family has graciously offered to prepare a hot turkey meal (or two) for the TLC Food Pantry again this year. They’ll be joined by a multitude (see what I did there?) of helpers to prepare a hearty meal for all.

Bridget adding that secret something to her Top Secret Stuffing!!
Pat at work carving turkey #1!

What better way to finish off a great meal, than with some……shopping! This month we have some extra treats in store. Everyone will be invited to select a toy (or two) for any children in the household (we typically have gifts for the 0-12 age range). While we’re wrapping those gifts for you, we’ll still offer the ‘usual’ pantry shopping experience.

The TLC pantry team is also hard at work trying to collect a special collection of fresh produce this month. Fresh fruits and veggies are spectacular any time of year, though even more so now that we’re all spending more and more time indoors.

Who doesn’t love a Christmas orange in their stocking?!

We hope you’ll be able to join us this coming Saturday, 12/22/18. Lunch service starts at 12:00p, followed by shopping from 1-3:00p. We expect to be opening the doors between 11:30-11:45. We will continue to us the numbered card system, even for the toy shopping. We ask that everyone remains polite and respectful of each other;-)

Interested in volunteering this weekend? We have a few opening remaining. Please email pantry@templelutheran.org for more information.

Chatham Park Food Drive – Dec 2018

December 9, 2018January 20, 2019 TLC Food Pantry

TLC Food Pantry has had the honor and privilege to have worked with the Haverford School District over the past two years. Two summers ago, the administrative team performed a bag drop in the Westgate Hills area of Havertown. Teachers, leaders, and principals alike dropped off bag requests, then returned a week later to collect donations and stock our pantry shelves. This past February, Chestnutwold gathered for MLK day to perform various service day projects. The turnout was tremendous and had a lasting impact on TLC’s ability to serve those in need. (for more details, see the post on MLK Service Day 2018).

More recently, through the month of November, Chatham Park Elementary (K-5) held a food drive. While we have been blessed as food drive recipients in the past, never before have we received such of large volume of the exact food items that are ‘fan-favorites’ with our guests.

Holy Cow! Look at the size this donation!

More often than not, we are challenged with the amount of canned fruit, coffee, cereal (non-Cheerio), peanut butter, and snack bars we are able to stock. The Chatham Park students, teachers, and staff came through in a BIG way. We’re pleased to note that for our upcoming service day (December 22, 12-3p), we’ll be able to stock all of those items and won’t run out!

K-3rd grade donations.

From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank everyone who had a hand in the Chatham Park Food Drive this year. Your generosity will go directly to helping those in our community who may be having a hard time this holiday season. Change begins with every one of us and needless to say, this will have a positive impact on many people!

Fruit, soup, and peanut butter ready for stocking.

If you or your organization are interested in running a food drive, feel free to send us an email. While the Holidays are a natural time to considering sharing with others, we have found the need exists year-round for many. Any time of year is the right time to think of someone else. pantry@templelutheran.org