November 2022 • A Reason to be Thankful
Message from the Director
As we enter the holiday season there will be so many ways the message of giving thanks will come to most of us, right up until the end of December. But how difficult will it be for some of us to give thanks?
A recent study was conducted that revealed there are 3 areas that negatively affect families today:
Not having access to nutritious food
Not having stable housing
Not having dependable transportation
Every single week our pantry serves many of these individuals. A good portion of them fit all three categories. All of them fit the top category. From the single dad who was left to care for his two school age boys to the mother of 5 children that has suffered such emotional and physical trauma in her life that she is incapable of holding down a steady job. Both families depend on our pantry and the security they find in our pantry provides them and us a great reason to give thanks this season.
Working or volunteering at the pantry there are always so many things, miraculous things, to give thanks for. For me personally I had to report out on how many individuals we had served this year. The report revealed that in 2021 we served a total of 45,027 and by the end of October 2022 we had served 47,485. That provided me a huge opportunity to give thanks. Thanks to the Oregon Food Bank who has partnered with us from the beginning.
Thanks for the stores and other organizations that have provided a tremendous amount of donations and……
Thank you!
Thanks for caring about those that are all around us. So many of them don’t have voices but the pain in their eyes speaks volumes. Your continued financial contribution has made this possible. Because of the food shortage that has hit our country we have had to spend more of our finances to ensure families get nutritious food. It is our highest priority. It’s not good enough to just give out food, but if we are going to stop the cycle of poverty in the lives of many individuals, they must have access to nutritious food. That access has been made possible by your financial partnership with us. Words could never thank you enough. You have changed the trajectory of the lives of hundreds of people.
So, if you have not heard it yet this thanksgiving season, hear it first from me. Join me in thankfulness. Your partnering with our pantry has given such tremendous hope to people and with just a little bit of hope, one can get up in the morning one more time and try again:
POBC Pantry's 2023 Share The Love Gala
Saturday, February 11, 2023
5:30 PM
Hosted at:
Gray Gables Estate
One last thing before I go, we would love for you to go to pobcantry.com and buy your tickets for the 2023 “Share the Love Gala”. The tickets would make such a great Christmas present for many, and it will be a wonderful way for you to help us reach our $150,000 goal this year.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
