10 minute read
Lunches of Love – Feeding Families, One Bag at a Time
By Traci Sanders
Mountain Park United Methodist Church’s (MPUMC) mission encourages us to “Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” And this church is living out that mission in many ways, one of which is through their program called Lunches of Love.
This program began in 2013 when MPUMC partnered with individuals and groups in the community to gather food and other necessities to deliver to those in Gwinnett and surrounding areas who are isolated due to poverty or lack of transportation or other resources. What began as a summer lunch program quickly became a year-round outpouring of love. Many times the meals they provide are the only meals some of those families will eat in a given day.
MPUMC’s tenth summer of Lunches of Love Food Delivery is underway! There are three ways to help: 1. Donate any items on the approved Grocery List to fill the Weekly Food Bags; 2. Donate a Weekly Food bag already filled with non-perishable food; and 3. Donate money for purchases of supplies or needed food.
Non-perishable food donations may be dropped off in the Family Life Center/Community Room at Mountain Park United Methodist Church, 1405 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain, 30087 (use Popular Drive entrance) between these times: Sundays 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., and Wednesdays 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. After-hours drop boxes are available as well.
Weekly Food Bags are also welcome. Donors may choose to bring in pre-filled bags in accordance with the approved grocery list, which includes items such as pretzels, chips, microwave popcorn, peanut butter, oatmeal or grits, and canned noodles or meat.
Substitutions may be needed. Patrons are encouraged to use their best judgement to choose replacement items, but are asked to not omit any items on the list. The goal is at least 8-10 servings in each bag, and expired items are not accepted. The MPUMC volunteers will purchase and distribute loaves of bread along with these bags, so bread is not needed.
In addition to summer lunches, MPUMC also provides school supplies, household items, clothing, diapers, books, food boxes, Thanksgiving meals, and a free Christmas Shoppe. This program is run entirely by volunteers and exists through generous donations of food, supplies, and money. In addition, each summer MPUMC hands out full-sized backpacks full of supplies to kids and teens. Some of the most-needed donations are: new full-sized 17” or larger backpacks, 1” notebooks, packs of subject dividers, filler paper (college rule and wide rule), scissors (blunt and pointed tip), 24-pack Crayola® crayons, composition books, packs of markers, packs of colored pencils, packs of pencils, 100 count packs of 3” x 5” index cards, 3-prong folders with pockets, and dry erase markers. It has become a Lunches of Love tradition to give each teen/child a new ball each summer. On Sports Day, they start with the oldest teens, giving them first choice of balls since teens are often involved with high school sports teams and need practice balls. These older teens are also challenged to serve as role models for the younger kids to give them “someone worth looking up to.” The following ball sizes are always accepted: sizes 4 and 5 soccer balls, official-sized footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, four-square balls, Hula Hoops®, Frisbees®, and jump ropes.
Volunteers are always needed and welcomed. MPUMC currently has three volunteer times each week during the Summer: Sundays 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays (food delivery day in the community) 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Wednesdays 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The director of Lunches of Love shared with me, “Our Lunches of Love theme is ‘love your neighbor.’ One of the most special things about this program is the relationships that are built through it. We celebrate ten-year-old kids that we met as infants, high school graduates that come back and visit us, and grandparent volunteers who serve with us and mentor the kids. We have spent time at hospitals sitting with worried family members or visiting new babies. We have grieved together as a community through funerals of friends who have been lost too soon. We celebrate the things that bond us – friendships, family, community, love. There is no way to measure ‘who’ receives more from each encounter, between our Lunches of Love volunteers and the neighbors we seek to serve.”
More information at www.mountainparkumc.org/lunchesoflove
Would You Think a Parrot Would Cuddle? Continued from page 18
from my bird room. They hear Jack’s truck pull into the driveway, and there is a subdued reaction except for Joey, the umbrella cockatoo. Jack is his FAVORITE person in all the world. “I love you!” “Come here!” “Let me out!” “Wanna go outside?” “Huh?” “Huh!” “Joey, Joey, Joey?” “I love you, Joey!”
I get NOTHING from Joey when my van pulls into the driveway. BUT…all the other birds have a massive ruckus screaming and calling, “Mamma’s home!” “Give me KISS!” “Let me out!” “I ain’t no bird.” “WWWaaaatttteeeerrrrr.”
These parrots know I have to come close for a kiss. They make the smooching sound after the demand. They know water is water, and when it is dirty, they can call for water, and I will go and look. And, of course, “let me out” is my cue to open the door of their cage for a cuddle or a kiss. When they cuddle, they will mumble, “I love you” and “that feels so good.” They learn from us the proper responses because of our energy. When our energy changes, and it is not frightening, they remember. When you are gently preening a parrot, and they fluff up all their feathers like goosebumps, you cannot help but say, “Aaahh. Does that feel so good?” Or some other nonsensical dribble. And when you open the door of their cage to move them out (to clean or let them flap), you cannot help but ask, “Want to come out?”
These parrots have been domesticated much like the dogs and cats of today. Many pet parrots have been hand-reared from naked little babies. These babies may not make good bird parents because they were never taught by their own bird parents how to feed a baby that has hatched. It may take years for a pet to sit on a nest and hatch a baby successfully – no bird has taught them.
As humans, we must always be responsible for our endeavors. We cannot make pets of all the parrots. Breeders must make monetary sacrifices and allow some babies to be raised by the parents for future breeding purposes. Supply and demand is only one reason parrots have increased in price.
Brenda Bean is the owner of Parrot Productions and Fancy Feathers. More information at http://fancyfeathersstore.com/ or 770986-0661
$5,000 was raised on both the Exceptional Foundation of Atlanta’s site and the Special Kneads and Treats site, Doug would wax his legs – one for each organization. While the stunt definitely upped viewership and awareness of both EFA and Special Kneads, Doug fell short of his goal. “I guess I will keep my legs the way they are!” says Doug. He went on to describe how important it was to him that his ride and social media posts brought both organizations into the spotlight among those who followed along Doug’s ride.
To virtually take the same road as Doug’s journey, check out his Facebook Page: Cycling at a Higher Level. Once there, followers can see hundreds of photos of Americana taken from the backroads and towns along the route Doug and his group took. Mountains, plains, downtowns, big cities, and loads of “Welcome to…” signs document the journey. In each photo of Doug, followers can see the custom-made jerseys sporting EFA and Special Kneads logos.
Peddling for miles, soaking up the sights, and thinking things through were gifts Doug, with the support of his family, gave to himself. It isn’t easy to push yourself sometimes. The past two years have been more than difficult for everyone. Getting outside, doing something, no matter how small, is a great way to gain perspective on what is important. Whether it is cycling at a higher level or something like walking, gardening, writing, singing, painting, or drawing, Doug’s perspective is that one should strive to do those beneficial things at the highest level possible, leading everyone to seek that which makes them individually – exceptional.
Doug’s epic journey ended on June 26th. The group, who had grown closer over the two month journey, ceremoniously dipped their tires in the Atlantic Ocean to signify the end of the trail. While they would be parting company, they would be leaving one another with a sense of accomplishment – both individually and as a group – and with a new bond of brotherhood and sisterhood to take home with them. tem, said the transition from training in Florida in a group situation to a private trainer in Georgia was a challenge for Harmonee at first, but she has adjusted well. Harmonee is social, and working and training with peers has been good for her.
Harmonee makes it a point to continually run her best, and she works to improve with each run and each event.
“My favorite event to compete in is the 200 meters,” she said. “I enjoy watching my times drop because it makes me feel accomplished.”
Harmonee continues to travel to meets running in her events, meeting new friends, and seeing familiar faces. And while she has some time before making it to high school, Harmonee already has aspirations of running for her high school track team.
But for now when it comes to running, Harmonee’s main focus isn’t just about the winning.
“When it is time for me to compete, winning is not my focus,” she said. “I focus strictly on executing my races the way that my coach trains me to do. In the end, winning makes me feel good about myself.”
Before long, we may see Harmonee’s name alongside some of the great track and field competitors like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Joan Benoit, and Gail Devers! Congratulations Harmonee! And keep on running.
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