Mission Highlight

We set a goal of collecting 2,050 lbs. of food. We did 1,800 lbs. in 2022. We hope to get at least 130 bags, each filled with 16 lbs. or more of food.

How can you help? 

Donate 

• * Bring in a bag (or two) of groceries by March 31. Access the shopping list to find specific items requested by CES, VEAP, and to supply the Little Free Pantry.
• * To purchase food online for Every Meal click here. If needed, refer to the instructions on how to use the website. NOTE: In order for Every Meal to track donations from Meetinghouse, please indicate “MEETINGHOUSE CHURCH DONATION” in the Additional Information/Order notes section.

• * Donate financially. If you use Pushpay, select “Missions Special Gifts” or write your check to Meetinghouse Church and designate “Missions Special Gifts”. Contributions received during the month of March will be split between the three organizations noted above and to the Little Free Pantry.

Participate in the Missional Madness after church on Sunday, March 19. We will have our mission partners onsite for you to meet, fun activities, and treats to enjoy. In addition, an example of the Little Free Pantry will be displayed.

Volunteer to sort the food collected and prepare for disbursement to CES, Every Meal, VEAP and the Little Free Pantry. The event will take place at Meetinghouse Church on Saturday, April 1, 9:00 – 11:30 am. Sign up on March 19 at the Missional Madness event or send an email to Elaine Heltne (Missions Coordinator).

Rooted in God’s loving grace, CES transforms lives by serving neighbors, sharing resources, and becoming community. CES meets hunger where it is a critical need, on client’s food shelves with Home Delivery to the homebound and Meals on Wheels to seniors. 

Learn more about Community Emergency Service in this video.

• * Volunteers (individuals, couples, families and groups, one-time or ongoing) are needed for one of the CES programs (e.g., Food Shelf, Home Delivery, Meals on Wheels).
  
• * Volunteer to help with office and administrative needs.
  

Interested in volunteering? Email Elaine Heltne to get started.

To donate financially in support of this organization, please use Pushpay and select “Missions Special Gifts” or write your check to Meetinghouse Church and designate “Missions Special Gifts.” Contributions received during the month of March will be split between all three organizations and to the Little Free Pantry.

We invite you to pray specifically:

• * Ongoing financial and food support to meet the needs of the community they serve.
  
• * Volunteers to help with all their programs that serve their neighbors.
  

Every Meal works to fight hunger in our community by filling the gaps to food access that children face during weekends, summers, and extended breaks. It is important to note that more than 200,000 children in Minnesota live with food insecurity. 

Learn more about Every Meal in this video.

• * Volunteers are urgently needed to show up at partner schools throughout Minnesota to place food bags in children’s backpacks as part of Every Meal’s Weekend Meal Program. Volunteers have a hands-on, direct impact on children living with food insecurity by consistently and reliably distributing food every week. 
• * Volunteers are needed to help pack meal bags at their public packing events. Join other members from the community in this hands-on, high-energy opportunity to help pack food bags at their Volunteer Center in Roseville. Ages 8 and up are welcome. 

Interested in volunteering? Email Elaine Heltne to get started.

To donate financially in support of this organization, please use Pushpay and select “Missions Special Gifts” or write your check to Meetinghouse Church and designate “Missions Special Gifts.” Contributions received during the month of March will be split between all three organizations and to the Little Free Pantry.

We invite you to pray specifically:

• * Due to rising food costs and an increase by 34% in enrollment in their weekend meal program, their greatest need is more funds to purchase food. 
• * Looking for partners, connections and funding support to help in the fight against child hunger.

VEAP creates pathways to stronger, more hopeful communities through access to healthy food, housing stability, and supportive services.

Learn more about VEAP in this video.

• * Seeking volunteers! During the coldest months of the year, they traditionally lose many volunteers and are short one person for every ten needed.

Interested in volunteering? Email Elaine Heltne to get started.

To donate financially in support of this organization, please use Pushpay and select “Missions Special Gifts” or write your check to Meetinghouse Church and designate “Missions Special Gifts.” Contributions received during the month of March will be split between all three organizations and to the Little Free Pantry.

We invite you to pray specifically:

• * VEAP’s Social Services team is actively working with many individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness. While this problem isn’t always visible in the Bloomington/Richfield/Edina community, it is happening, and VEAP welcomes prayer for this vulnerable population.

Take what you need, give what you can.

In efforts to explore how to put our faith into action and how to “Do Good” for Christ’s sake, the High School Ministry at Meetinghouse sought out solutions for those experiencing food insecurity.  Out of this came the idea of joining in on the Little Free Pantry movement.

On March 5th, (in both Sunday services) you will hear a presentation from the High School students who will provide a more in depth look at the why and how of this project as well as ways you can offer support.

What is a Little Free Pantry? The free little pantry can look similar to the free little libraries you may see driving around neighborhoods. The free little pantry movement activates neighbor engagement with food insecurity.

The movement is a grassroots, crowdsourced solution to immediate and local needs. Whether a need for food or a need to give, mini pantries help feed neighbors, nourishing neighborhoods.