Custer Road UMC staff serves at NT Food Bank

BY AMANDA BUMGARNER
Custer Road UMC, Plano

13,346 pounds of food for 10,498 meals were boxed up by Custer Road UMC, Plano, staff in under two hours for the Staff Service Day at the North Texas Food Bank on April 13. As part of Mission Blitz—30 days of missions, 30 years of ministry—28 staff members road-tripped to the food bank in south Dallas.

A volunteer coordinator informed us that one in five children in the area is part of a family in a food crisis, and Texas is one of the top three hungriest states. Children eagerly anticipate the Food for Children backpacks that are prepared and handed out each week because they know if they do not receive one, they may go hungry over the weekend. “It was overwhelming to walk in and see pallet after pallet stacked high with food and know that there are many people who go hungry every day,” said Debbie Pomponio, coordinator of children’s events. “We left knowing that we boxed the food on Tuesday, and people will be eating by Thursday.”

The mantra became, “cans on bottoms, soft on top.” We were asked to prepare mixed boxes that would help to feed a hungry family for 5–7 days. Staff members carefully filled the boxes with items such as soup, rice, cereal, pudding, chips and veggies, and remembered to include frosting for cake/cupcake mixes. Some filled boxes, some carried completed boxes, some stacked and broke down boxes, and others threw out damaged items. It was definitely a team effort. “My old company spent hundreds on team-building exercises, but this was just as effective and helped someone else in the process,” said Nancy Bryan, creative director.

Boxes that were assembled went out before we even left the food bank. It was fun and therapeutic as well as a rewarding and humbling experience. We all left wanting to go back soon and to take others from our various ministry areas. Said Taci Kistler, director of congregational care, “Even though I’m blessed to do God’s work every day, working at the NTFB was as close as I’ve felt to making a difference in a long time!”

Our experience indicates that churches and others seeking a fulfilling experience should consider volunteering at the North Texas Food Bank. Volunteers from the fifth grade and up, small and large groups, are needed daily and every other Saturday. Go to www.ntfb.org to sign up.

Custer Road UMC is located at 6601 Custer Road, For more information about the church and its ministries, call 972-618-3450 or log on to www.crumc.org.

The Custer Road UMC, Plano, staff boxed more than 13,000
pounds of food at its April 13 Staff Service Day at the
North Texas Food Bank.

Volunteers from the Custer Road UMC staff load food to help
feed hungry families for five to seven days.