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 First Congregational of Holliston Gets Red while Going Green
Recyclable bags used to help stock the food pantry
by Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor
There are many people 'going green' by bringing their own tote bags to the grocery store and saying 'no' to both paper and plastic. But the First Congregational Church UCC of Holliston went 'red' instead and bagged outreach along with their environmental stewardship ministry.
The church's Christian Outreach Committee with the support of the Massachusetts Conference, donated recyclable grocery bags (bright red bags with the Conference logo) to First Congregational members to support the Holliston Pantry Shelf. In exchange for the free grocery bags, the members were asked to purchase one or more grocery items for the pantry each time they used the bags.
"People said that the bright red bags made donating food pantry items an easy task," said Rev. Marnette Saz, who was the Interim Pastor of the Holliston church when the bag program was put in place. "They would just keep the red bag with their own grocery totes and because the Conference bag was so colorful, while they were shopping for their own household needs they would remember to add a few extra items."
The church made shopping for the items even easier. The committee members got a copy of the food pantry list of needed items, organized that shopping list into sections of the supermarket so items would be easier to spot, then included a copy of the new list in every red bag.
"There are items on the list that one would never think of buying for the pantry -- like shampoo, toilet paper, and deodorant," said Saz. But the pantry does give out those items to the needy. And the number of people being serviced by the pantry has grown significantly over the past year."
When the members realized that the food pantry was concerned about low supplies during the summer and fall, the church wanted to do something about it.
"People wanted to help," Saz said. "But with jobs, families, and commuting, many found it difficult to remember to add those extra items before checkout. They just needed these gentle reminders to make it happen." Members can drop their items off at a box at the church, then someone from the Christian Outreach committee takes the items to the food bank.
Saz incorporated the bag program into worship by telling how Jesus fed the many hungry people in the crowd, and this was a chance for members of First Congregational to do the same.
"I love a program where we are able to make giving to others an everyday part of our lives," said Rev. Bonnie Steinroeder, the new senior minister. "This food pantry program allows us to integrate our daily practice of service with a real need that exists in the community. First Congregational Church in Holliston is honored is be a part of this wonderful program!"
"It was a very easy and inexpensive way to do outreach and help feed the hungry," said Saz. "This is clearly a win-win-win: be a good neighbor, save the environment and help a Holliston family."
"With this small, but colorful item," she continued, "members could do something very special in His name."
Editor's Note: If your congregation is interested in ordering bags for $1.00 each, or in using the Conference template to create your own, please contact Cindy Bolton at the Framingham office, 508-875-5233 or email BoltonC@MACUCC.org.
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Tell us how God is speaking in and through your church. Have you reached out to the community in unique ways? Initiated a new mission project? Found a new way to minister to those within the congregation? Share your story and help us to spread the good news! Contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor, at cochranem@macucc.org.
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"Source: Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, www.macucc.org/spotlight" |
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