SATURDAY SERVINGS

We regret we are unable to accept new or prior volunteers at these events due to Covid-19 social distancing guidelines and out of an abundance of caution for the many we serve who have weakened immune systems. We are eager to have you join us in the future.

Ask any volunteer who has served with us at Saturday Servings, and they'll likely tell you that they feel they were blessed more by the experience than those they met and served. That's because volunteering at these events is far more than slinging hash or getting your halo shined. And most folks realize that the moment they step out of their comfort zones...praying with strangers, holding hands with skin colors unlike your own, hugging the unbathed, trading your shoes for someone's with holes, or biting your tongue instead of complaining about how miserably hot, cold, or wet you are when you know the person across from you whose styrofoam plate you're loading up with spaghetti doesn't have a home to escape the weather like you will once the last soul is served. Serve with us often, and you'll begin to experience and appreciate all that God is doing through and for our guests and our volunteers. To those who have served with us often and are unable to for now, we sure miss ya! And we look forward to a day when we can have you safely resume!

At our weekly Saturday Servings event, we used to serve a hot meal to 200-300+ homeless or poverty-stricken neighbors. Due to the challenges created by the Covid-19 virus, we have chosen to err on the side of extreme caution with changes intended to protect our most fragile neighbors. Meals that were once prepared and served in person by local churches and businesses are now dropped off just prior to serving, and left for our core team to distribute. In addition to a meal and socially-distanced painfully-brief fellowship, we still provide tents, sleeping bags, toiletries, canned foods, bike repairs, and assistance applying for benefits. We are eager to resume our Ask the Nurse, Let's Pray!, and clothing distribution tables once a safe way to accomplish that is found. 

These events are held every Saturday...regardless of weather. Setup begins at 12:30, and we serve until 3:30 or until we run out of meals and groceries.

In November of 2017, we began creating confidential profiles on the households we serve, to allow us to better understand their needs and where we might provide assistance. These profiles show us who needs health insurance, housing, jobs, and emergency shelter. Since 2017, we've created profiles on over 4,000 men, women and children so far. Tragically, over 600 of them indicate they are experiencing homelessness.
 

Meals Served

In 2016, volunteers from our partner churches and businesses purchased, prepared and served 3,639 delicious hot meals. In 2017, 6,469 meals were served. In 2018, they served 11,565 meals.  In 2019, 10,739 meals were served. And in 2020, 12,954 meals were served, despite pausing operations for three weeks when the pandemic first struck. Since resuming these events on April 11th, the numbers of guests joining us has surpassed pre-Covid levels and continues to climb. 2021 began with 372 meals being served on January 2nd.

Canned Goods Distributed

Our Mo Hope Mobile Pantry usually provides each member of a household one days' worth of food...2 cans of proteins, 2 cans of veggies, 1 can of fruit, and 1 starch. In response to the Covid-19 virus, we have increased to two days' worth of food. That's 10 cans per person per week at $1 per can. When available, we provide fresh fruit, veggies, and bread. In 2018, over 57,800 cans of food were distributed. And in 2019, we distributed over 53,600 cans. In 2020, we shifted from counting cans of food to counting meals that can be prepared with the food we distribute. That equated to 104,979 meals last year, and 20,448 meals as of March 6th in 2021. The increase in the amount of food we provide has been made possible in large part because of our Neighborhood Canned Food Drive program, created in response to impact on grocery prices and availability our neighbors are experiencing because of the pandemic.

Toiletries Distributed

Our Mo Hope Mobile Pantry also progvides toiletries to our guests as most of those items can't be purchased using SNAP funds. Prior to COVID, we provided each member of a household a bag of toiletries intended to last a week. Each bag contained a roll of toilet paper, tooth brush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, soap, shampoo, razor, and lip balm. In 2018, over 11,000 toiletry bags were distributed. And in 2019, over 10,700 bags were distributed. In response to COVID and social distancing challenges, we chose to cease pre-bagging hygiene items, and now offer primarily toilet paper, with other items provided upon request.

Servings are held at the Brookhill Azalea Shopping Center 5300 Chamberlayne Rd.  Across the parking lot from Food Lion.