South Congregational Church UCC in Pittsfield has used food as a focus of many of their outreach activities, but this year it was served with a bow.

Members of South Congregational were helping serve dinner every Wednesday at St. Joe's Kitchen in neighboring St. Joseph's Catholic Church when, 15 years ago, the Catholic church said it could no longer continue the program. The Mission Board of South Congregational stepped up to the plate and accepted the responsibility for this community need by offering their building, dining hall, and members. Now, five teams of volunteers -- inside and outside the church -- cook and serve dinner for 75-100 people each Wednesday.

Seeing a need to do more, members initiated a food pantry to supplement the dinner program. Within this past year the pantry has become more organized under the direction of church member Mary Wheat. It is now staffed three mornings a week where between 30 and 50 bags of food are given out to people in need. The food is provided by parishioners and outside donations, as well as area food banks.   

Pat Hill, Moderator of South Congregational, spent quite a bit of time at the pantry, and decided she wanted to do even more. "I was impressed with the numbers of people, their appreciation and their need," she said.  "But seeing them leave with a smile, clutching their bag of food, made me feel a little sad. Food seems like such a basic thing to have, but it was an eye-opener to see that for some people it is a real need that may not be filled.  It made me realize that we needed to do even more." 

So Hill sewed up a little cloth gift bag out of Christmas fabric, then asked several other ladies to help. The ladies then requested donations of personal care items and Christmas treats from the different church groups. The 'gift bag group' met together and assembled the bags, and attached a card which had "Christmas Blessings from South Church" written on it.   Over 55 bags were made and distributed at the pantry the two weeks preceding Christmas.  In addition, the ladies got family members and girl scouts involved -- who baked cookies put them in decorative paper bags and gave them out at dinner. 

The project pulled everyone together to gather from their own resources to help others. "Various women would tell me that they were going through their stashes of fabric and personal care items and they were so happy to do it," said Hill. "I can't believe what spirit was generated from this really simple project."  The bag was even used by the pastor, Rev. Joel Huntington, as a visual aid during the children's sermon to explain the importance of giving. 

To the receivers, though, it was more than just a simple project.  Hill explained that one man who received the bag had tears in his eyes because he was so moved by the gesture.  Another older woman hugged the bag and said this was the only gift she would receive this year because she was alone and had no family. 

Marge Demary, secretary at the church and a volunteer at the pantry who helped with creating the bags, was emotionally touched by the outpouring of thanks from the recipients.  "I had no idea what these bags would mean to people," she said.  "Everyone was just so thankful and appreciative; it made me want to cry. One man I met was in total awe because he just couldn't believe he was receiving a gift.  It was his first time at the pantry and he couldn't believe that he was given something extra.  It was like we gave these people the world." 

"The food pantry needs have doubled since we started," she said.   "I had no idea there were so many people in Pittsfield who were going hungry.  And I feel blessed to have been able to be just a part of this program."  Hill said: "I know that by surprising each of our clients with a little gift bag, we were doing God's work, brightening their days and showing that "God is Still Speaking."  

Plans are already in the works to repeat the program next year. 

South Congregational Church UCC in Pittsfield has used food as a focus of many of their outreach activities, but this year it was served with a bow.

Members of South Congregational were helping serve dinner every Wednesday at St. Joe's Kitchen in neighboring St. Joseph's Catholic Church when, 15 years ago, the Catholic church said it could no longer continue the program. The Mission Board of South Congregational stepped up to the plate and accepted the responsibility for this community need by offering their building, dining hall, and members. Now, five teams of volunteers -- inside and outside the church -- cook and serve dinner for 75-100 people each Wednesday.

Seeing a need to do more, members initiated a food pantry to supplement the dinner program. Within this past year the pantry has become more organized under the direction of church member Mary Wheat. It is now staffed three mornings a week where between 30 and 50 bags of food are given out to people in need. The food is provided by parishioners and outside donations, as well as area food banks.   

Pat Hill, Moderator of South Congregational, spent quite a bit of time at the pantry, and decided she wanted to do even more. "I was impressed with the numbers of people, their appreciation and their need," she said.  "But seeing them leave with a smile, clutching their bag of food, made me feel a little sad. Food seems like such a basic thing to have, but it was an eye-opener to see that for some people it is a real need that may not be filled.  It made me realize that we needed to do even more." 

So Hill sewed up a little cloth gift bag out of Christmas fabric, then asked several other ladies to help. The ladies then requested donations of personal care items and Christmas treats from the different church groups. The 'gift bag group' met together and assembled the bags, and attached a card which had "Christmas Blessings from South Church" written on it.   Over 55 bags were made and distributed at the pantry the two weeks preceding Christmas.  In addition, the ladies got family members and girl scouts involved -- who baked cookies put them in decorative paper bags and gave them out at dinner. 

The project pulled everyone together to gather from their own resources to help others. "Various women would tell me that they were going through their stashes of fabric and personal care items and they were so happy to do it," said Hill. "I can't believe what spirit was generated from this really simple project."  The bag was even used by the pastor, Rev. Joel Huntington, as a visual aid during the children's sermon to explain the importance of giving. 

To the receivers, though, it was more than just a simple project.  Hill explained that one man who received the bag had tears in his eyes because he was so moved by the gesture.  Another older woman hugged the bag and said this was the only gift she would receive this year because she was alone and had no family. 

Marge Demary, secretary at the church and a volunteer at the pantry who helped with creating the bags, was emotionally touched by the outpouring of thanks from the recipients.  "I had no idea what these bags would mean to people," she said.  "Everyone was just so thankful and appreciative; it made me want to cry. One man I met was in total awe because he just couldn't believe he was receiving a gift.  It was his first time at the pantry and he couldn't believe that he was given something extra.  It was like we gave these people the world." 

"The food pantry needs have doubled since we started," she said.   "I had no idea there were so many people in Pittsfield who were going hungry.  And I feel blessed to have been able to be just a part of this program."  Hill said: "I know that by surprising each of our clients with a little gift bag, we were doing God's work, brightening their days and showing that "God is Still Speaking."  

Plans are already in the works to repeat the program next year.