CUMC Spotlight Missions for November 2024:

ACTS Food Pantry and 5Loaves2Fish Northern Michigan

by Zeke Fleet

 

Acme Christian Thrift Store and Food Pantry (ACTS Food Pantry)

 

And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” and he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”    Luke 3:10-11

Founded in 2002, the ACTS Food Pantry in Williamsburg is a multi-denominational, multi-agency non-profit Christian organization that serves neighbors in need in Antrim, Kalkaska, and Grand Traverse Counties. The store and pantry are at 8925 M-72 East. 

According to Carol Hockin, director of operations, the food pantry is financially supported by proceeds from the Thrift Store with grants from United Way of Northwest Michigan, financial support from churches, and other community organizations. The Thrift Store and Food Pantry are staffed by 60 volunteers along with three paid staff members. Through September 2024, volunteers have committed more than 8,530 hours to the organization.

The Thrift Store is open to the public from Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The store carries gently used clothing, household goods, books, and more. Donations are appreciated and are received Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pantry food is purchased from area retailers and is also provided by Food Rescue/Goodwill Northern Michigan, Northwest Food Coalition/Farm2Neighbor, and the Feeding America organization. Donations are regularly received from local gardens, and farm-raised livestock is acquired from the Northwest Michigan Fair. Client services are arranged through collaboration with the Father Fred Foundation and other organizations in the Grand Traverse Family Support Group. Food pantry recipients are required to meet 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and can receive food at no charge if supplies are adequate. In 2023, the Food Pantry supplied meals for 2,662 families, and distributed 266,200 pounds of groceries valued at $465,850. The pantry is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday by appointment, and can be reached at (231) 267-3002.

The Acme Christian Thrift Store and Food Pantry actively provides essentials for those in need.  As a designated mission of Central United Methodist Church, we urge you to support ACTS Food Pantry through mission offerings, pantry and food donations, and volunteer help.

Our Central Missions Committee liaison is Michael Conlan. 

Carol Hockin, ACTS Food Pantry director of operations, can be reached at (231) 938-2990 or by email at: actsstorepantry@gmail.com

 

5Loaves2Fish Northern Michigan

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 

 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.  He did the same with the fish.  John 6:9-11

 According to Corrie Jo Piersma, director of development, this unique and invaluable outreach group is “Not your ordinary church kitchen, but a vast network of people from all walks of life, coming together to feed people in need.” The mission statement reads as follows: “5Loaves2Fish is an outreach group that promotes compassion by providing nourishing meals, infused with love, to those experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. We feed people.”

The 5Loaves2Fish outreach program was founded in March of 2020 by Michelle and Bill White of Leland. The pandemic caused many outreach services to be curtailed or shut down entirely, leaving vulnerable neighbors without sustainable food sources. 

At the onset of the pandemic, founders of 5Loaves2Fish prepared nutritious meals and met homeless neighbors wherever they were. While the program started small, with the gracious and endless help of community members and partners, the program has continued to expand its reach since its conception. 5Loaves2Fish is proud to offer homemade meals to anyone in need – no questions asked. 

 

5Loaves2Fish meals are prepared four days a week at Leland Community UMC, with much of the food received through partnerships with Food Rescue and the Northwest Food Coalition. This year, they are serving approximately 450 meals every week in Leelanau, Benzie and Grand Traverse counties. 

The following are the days, times and locations for food distribution:

• Mondays at 5 p.m. at Veterans’ Park and 6 p.m. at Safe Harbor in Traverse City – meals to go are available at Leelanau Christian Neighbors in Lake Leelanau during pantry hours.
• Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. – a free, hot community meal is hosted at Leland UMC.
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. at Leland Community UMC – meals to go are available at Empire Food Pantry and Lake Ann UMC Pantry.
• Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. – meals to go at Friendship Community Center in Suttons Bay.
• Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. – meals to go at Bethany Church in Northport.

5Loaves2Fish is supported through community members, private donors and its endowment fund that is administered by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. Donations of unopened, unexpired fresh or frozen food and volunteer assistance are appreciated. Financial contributions are encouraged. 

5Loaves2Fish offers meal services in three counties. Contact 5Loaves2Fish to get involved or to donate. They can be reached by calling (231) 735-8133 or by email at: 5loaves2fishnmi@gmail.com

Ann Porter is CUMC’s mission committee liaison for 5Loaves2Fish.

Interested in supporting these organizations through Central Ministries? Make a financial gift today by clicking here and selecting Central Missions when designating your donation.