The meat from our FARM program (Feeding Area Residents Meat) blesses many through church food programs and partnering agencies in the community. Occasionally we are also able to gift our Neighbors in Need with much-needed protein.
Seniors often live on a fixed income. Too frequently there is not enough money to meet their needs. Because of FARM we can give them various kinds of meat. Two come to mind who live on very little. When we give them ground beef and bacon they are so delighted. One only eats beef and bacon, the other enjoys when we can include pork chops as well. Because we can bless them with meat, they can then buy other needed basics...like toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
Another client who isn't a senior, but lives on a fixed income, is unable to work because of health issues. She does what she can and rarely asks for much. However, she too loves getting our ground beef and bacon. "You guys, rock!" she tells us when we are able to bless her in this way.
A family we have known for a while has a very ill member and the spouse is caregiver, so neither are able to work at present. They too rarely ask for much, just medical items and an occasional food box. A partner church assembles the food box, using meat from our FARM program. This makes a big difference in their menu, and hopefully helps with the health issues.
A single dad we know moved here from several states away to be closer to his children. Even though working, he has little money to live on. When he first arrived and was getting established we were able to bless him a few times with meat and food boxes. He commented, "This is so helpful. I am grateful. Thanks so much." We are also now thankful as he has found good employment and is doing much better financially!
Then there was the time during a rainy cold December we heard about a young mom in a camper with two small children. They had nothing to eat. A volunteer took them meat and a food basket from a partner church. There were tears all around...they went to bed with satisfied tummies versus hungry tummies.
More recently we were able to bless a couple new to our area. This would be a one-time thing, as there had been a glitch in receiving an earned paycheck. Nevertheless, that week they were hungry and out of food as they waited. We filled up a bag of meat from our office, including some other 'random' items we had. This military man was so gracious..."We thank you, Ma'am. Much obliged. This will really help." It was our joy to include a cold press coffee maker he said his wife would LOVE! His face lit up when offered this. Even in their challenging time, he could give his wife a gift that would bring her joy.
Our FARM program also helps Life Seeds Ministries, a partnering ministry. Each month they ask us for names for about 6 families in need of food. Knowing our families, we often are aware of who would really be blessed by this. And so often when our Call Center volunteers call and offer a food box (with meat) the response is...."You don't know what this means! I was just trying to figure out if we could go to the food bank again...we are down to almost nothing. Thank you so much!"
Our FARM stories go on and on...such a blessing to so many!
Seniors often live on a fixed income. Too frequently there is not enough money to meet their needs. Because of FARM we can give them various kinds of meat. Two come to mind who live on very little. When we give them ground beef and bacon they are so delighted. One only eats beef and bacon, the other enjoys when we can include pork chops as well. Because we can bless them with meat, they can then buy other needed basics...like toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
Another client who isn't a senior, but lives on a fixed income, is unable to work because of health issues. She does what she can and rarely asks for much. However, she too loves getting our ground beef and bacon. "You guys, rock!" she tells us when we are able to bless her in this way.
A family we have known for a while has a very ill member and the spouse is caregiver, so neither are able to work at present. They too rarely ask for much, just medical items and an occasional food box. A partner church assembles the food box, using meat from our FARM program. This makes a big difference in their menu, and hopefully helps with the health issues.
A single dad we know moved here from several states away to be closer to his children. Even though working, he has little money to live on. When he first arrived and was getting established we were able to bless him a few times with meat and food boxes. He commented, "This is so helpful. I am grateful. Thanks so much." We are also now thankful as he has found good employment and is doing much better financially!
Then there was the time during a rainy cold December we heard about a young mom in a camper with two small children. They had nothing to eat. A volunteer took them meat and a food basket from a partner church. There were tears all around...they went to bed with satisfied tummies versus hungry tummies.
More recently we were able to bless a couple new to our area. This would be a one-time thing, as there had been a glitch in receiving an earned paycheck. Nevertheless, that week they were hungry and out of food as they waited. We filled up a bag of meat from our office, including some other 'random' items we had. This military man was so gracious..."We thank you, Ma'am. Much obliged. This will really help." It was our joy to include a cold press coffee maker he said his wife would LOVE! His face lit up when offered this. Even in their challenging time, he could give his wife a gift that would bring her joy.
Our FARM program also helps Life Seeds Ministries, a partnering ministry. Each month they ask us for names for about 6 families in need of food. Knowing our families, we often are aware of who would really be blessed by this. And so often when our Call Center volunteers call and offer a food box (with meat) the response is...."You don't know what this means! I was just trying to figure out if we could go to the food bank again...we are down to almost nothing. Thank you so much!"
Our FARM stories go on and on...such a blessing to so many!