Our programs address both
emergency and long-term needs. Our mission is to assist
families and individuals to improve the quality of their lives
in a manner which builds their self-esteem and fosters their
ability to function at the greatest level of their capacity --
socially, economically, and emotionally.
Once again, the shelves at
United Community Ministries' Food Pantry are perilously low.
This puts us in danger of not being able to serve our clients.
About a year and a half ago, we were serving an average of
fifty (50) families each day. A couple of months later when
the hours of distribution were extended, we began to
experience an increase in the number of families that were
being served. To date, we serve an average of seventy (70)
families each day.
We cater to homeless people as
well as to people with homes and therefore we prepare bags for
each group. For the homeless people, there are eleven (11)
different types of items that we include in a bag. Namely, 1
Jar Peanut Butter, 2 Meats, 2 Cans Fruit/Pudding Cups, 4 Juice
Boxes, 3 Cereal Boxes, 2 Apple Sauce, 5-6 Treats, 2 Raisins or
Small Jar of Jam, 1 Package Crackers, 2 Chips and 1 Fork,
Spoon, and Knife with napkin.
For families with homes, we
include sixteen (16) different types of items. Namely, ONE CAN
OR BOX OF: Beans, Soup, Tomato Sauce, Vegetable, Meat,
Fruit/Jell-O, Pasta, Rice, Tea, Cereal, Bread, plus Frozen
Meat or Fresh Eggs, Margarine, Fresh Cheese, Fresh Vegetables,
and Milk. On a weekly basis, we serve five (5) cases of
margarine, ten (10) boxes of eggs and fifteen (15) crates of
milk.
To conclude, the number of
families that are being served each day has increased, but
donations are still on the same level, if not a slight
decrease.
We desperately need: cereal,
pasta, beans, canned meat, fruits, and soups, tomato sauce,
Mac & Cheese, baby wipes, baby food, baby diapers, gift
certificates to local grocery stores and cash donations.
We call upon the community to
help us once again as you have done in the past. There are
many ways to help:
1. Bring food directly to UCM's office @
7511 Fordson Road Alexandria VA between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (side
entrance)
2. If you are having a party, ask guests to
bring some cans (or cash)
3. Ask your school or
church to host a Food Drive if they're not already doing so
(over a hundred schools and churches are already providing
support to the agency)
4. If any of you work with Associations, ask if they can host
a food drive at their local convention
5. Pass the word of our critical need to
friends and neighbors.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION , CALL 703-668-7106, ext. 327 or visit
www.ucmagency.org.
