“End the Growling” 2017
Long before
the packing date of April 29, 2017, Cori of Thornton Heights PUMC and the other
churches of the Casco Bay Cluster started to prepare to form teams at each of
the churches to seek financial donations and to prepare for the packing. During
the whole of the Lenten season collections were taken at each of the Wednesday
night Lenten services held at Cape Elizabeth UMC, West Scarborough UMC, Peoples
UMC, Thornton Heights UMC and at the Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene. In
addition each team member was to raise funds to support them for the purpose of
purchasing the product that we would pack. In addition to the churches
mentioned above the South Portland Odd Fellows also put together a team.
At Peoples
we were able to put together 2 teams with some who would serve as spares in the
event others might not be able to work on packing. The members of the Peoples
Packers team included: Keith and Becky, Merrill, Kit, Randy and Sara, Jan, Jim,
Dick, and Art and Marlene. Tuesday Morning Bible Study included: Carol, Pam,
Len and Lennie, Betty and Wes, Kathy, Bonnie, Randi, Pat, and Chuck. Rosemary and Amy were originally on this
team, but ended up serving in various other capacities. Betty S was not
available for packing.
 |
| Roll the product in |
 |
| The truck has arrived with product and equipment |
Over the
course of the weeks up to and including Packing Day the donations turned in from
Peoples totaled $1224.19, which was very close to the amount that we turned in
last year from three teams. Congratulations! In all there were 7 teams over the
course of two packing periods that packed 23,440 food packets in 108 cases that
will be distributed through local food cupboards. The total amount of money
raised was $5860. This was more than $2000 more than the original goal and over
3000 more meals than the original goal!
 |
| Is it oatmeal or soy |
 |
| Making labels |
 |
| Janemarie and Pastor Amy |
 |
| Unloading crew |
On the
morning of the packing the following members of Peoples and Thornton Heights
were present for unloading the truck, setting up the packing lines, labeling
individual packets and putting together boxes were Pastor Amy and Cori from
Thornton Heights. Joanne, Carol, Becky
and Marlene placed labels on the over 23,000 packets that would be filled with
oatmeal, dried apples, soy and cinnamon mix. Jim, Dick, Dave, Keith, Len, Chuck
and Art moved the product, built boxes and set up tables. Great work by all so
that everything was definitely in place by the one PM start time for packing.
 |
| Making boxes |
During the
first hour and one half the following teams were at work; Thornton Heights 1,
West Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and Odd Fellows.
 |
| West Scarborough |
 |
| Thornton Heights |
 |
| Odd Fellows |
 |
| Tuesday Morning Bible Group |
From about
2:30 PM until nearly five o’clock Peoples Packers 1, Tuesday Morning Bible
Study and Thornton Heights 2 were busily engaged.
 |
| Peoples Packers |
 |
| Thornton Heights on the line |
 |
| Joanne and Rosemary served goodies |
When each
group was finished or needed a break Rosemary and Joanne had coffee, donuts and
other goodies available in the kitchen. Pastor Amy had gone out to get coffee
and donuts that lasted from morning until late afternoon. Instead of taking any
money from the indulgers whatever was turned in was gifted to “End the
Growling”.
 |
| Cori at work |
We must
again thank Cori who spearheaded this activity for the 4th year,
first at Thornton Heights then at Elm Street and now for two years at Peoples.
Her dedication to this cause is what has allowed it to flow so smoothly in the
eyes of those who have been participants. We also thank her for the messages
that she made at the services during the Lenten season.
 |
| Janemarie at work |
We are also are
grateful to Janemarie who drove the truck with the product and equipment to
Peoples as well as instructed each of us on how to do our jobs. She also lifted
weighted bags and boxes when one of the young men, Jacob and Andrew, were
making product deliveries elsewhere. We are grateful to Outreach Inc. for their
leadership in bring such projects to us and helping us supply those in need
with nourishing food.
What a great
feeling we could all leave with as we had all worked as a blessing to others!
We do hope
and pray that those who worked on this project this year will be ready again
next year.
 |
| 23,440 Meals in 108 Cases for local cupboards |
