On January 15th the MLK Day of Service, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) distributed food donations to low-income families with Feeding Hands Pantry at 186 Route 206, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.
About Feeding Hands:
Our Mission
Feeding Hands exists to live out God’s commandment to care for the poor by loving and serving our neighbors in need.
Our Strategy
We will build an organization of excellence, modeling how to develop pantry programs to profoundly impact both those in need and those who serve them. Service to those who are struggling, when done right, changes the lives of those in need, builds the discipleship walk of those who serve, and glorifies their creator. We will engage the community, especially Christians and their churches, helping them to understand how to utilize their gifts to create vibrant change both inside and outside their walls and hearts.
We opened a food pantry in Somerville designed to demonstrate caring at its best. In May 2014, we began operating out of donated space in a small 30 member church. Sixty percent of Emmanuel Church stepped up and volunteered to serve. As the church saw the impact of what was happening, they allowed use of all of their main floor space for pantry operations. Although we are open only a few hours each Tuesday, we grew very quickly and are serving over 220 families each month. We distribute almost 10,000 pounds of meat, produce and non-perishables each month to veterans, the working poor, persons with disabilities, seniors and the unemployed. Approximately 40% of our guests walk to our pantry as they do not have automobiles. Many use 75% or more of their income to live in boarding houses where there is not even a communal kitchen. And all this takes place in the county seat of one of the richest counties in America. And we are only reaching the tip of the iceberg.
We treat each guest as we would like to be treated, and the result is AMAZING…for the guests, the volunteers and the church who shared their space with us!
All participating GPA members were registered online (https://www.feedinghandspantry.org).
GPA Volunteers (1/15, 3 hrs): Annie Xu, Michael Zhao, Yolanda Zhang, Jeffrey Zhang, Carl Shi, Luna Xu, Hanna Xu, Gina Ji, Sophia Liu, Martin Zhao, Sara Yu, Sophia Yu, Shuchen Yu
