Neighborhood Party - FANTASTIC!

Just a quick note.  The party we threw last weekend was FANTASTIC! A special thanks to Redeem Christian Fellowship, Monroe Christian Worship Center and El Shaddai International Ministries.  They joined in as local churches to reach out with God's love through giving away clothing (RCF), music (MCWC) and dance (ESIM).  A special thanks also to Mckinley Sanford and JT Mascorro who shared music with the neighborhood.  There are a lot of other folks who serve regularly with Common Heart that make things like this happen.  We really appreciate this dedicated team of servants. Together we served hot dogs, gave away groceries, played with kids, face painted, tied balloons, took kids on hay rides, dished out ice cream, prayed with folks, shared our lives ... basically loved on people in this ethnically diverse and economically challenged neighborhood. 

Unfortunately, we did not get any pictures.  But I know Betty, and the 400 or so people who came to her back yard experienced a blessing that they will not soon forget.

Food Drive Update (April 1, 2009)

Food drives and food donations are key ways that the shelves of the cupboard are filled.  Last month we had a virtual food drive that produced a great response. At a time when we did not know how we were going to meet the need of 45 families many of you responded by buying nearly $1000 worth of food through our virtual food drive. 

 

A week later a local church, Threshold in Matthews, ran a food drive that produced 1603 pounds of groceries.  Then the next week, one of our community partners, Bi-Lo at Siskey Parkway & Weddington Road, donated 1500 pounds of grocery items. What a blessing! Then the next week we received two pallets of chicken strips and sliced ham from Second Harvest, followed by a pallet of pasta!!!  For months we have been very short on meat & pasta. And then just the other day we received a donation of Tasty cakes from a local vendor!  We are in a different place than we were at the first of this month!     

 

Although as we start April we are in good shape, we can not rest there.  The need does not stop.  Our opportunity to demonstrate God's love in this most basic and practical way continues on. So, as we go into April, can you help out by planning a food drive, or donating through our virtual food drive.  Another way to help is to get involved with "Food for Your Neighbor".

Castle Rd Neighborhood: A little background

In August 2006, the second month that Common Cupboard was in existence, I delivered my first box of groceries to a family in this neighborhood.  It was not long before we were delivering 5 boxes.  Some of the families we have helped here have moved. Others are no longer in need of our help with groceries. Right now there are 18 families that receive about a weeks worth of groceries once a month served by 3 teams.

 

It is a very diverse neighborhood.  There are young families, people on disability, older couples.  Ethnically they are just as diverse with Latino, Black, white and mixed race families.  One thing that they share is that many of them are struggling.

Early on we met Betty. She is a character. She often gave away the food I gave her to a more needy family. Sandy is another friend.  They both will keep me informed on new families that need help.  And then there's James. Don't knock on his door and ask to use his phone . he has a clear very sign that says not to ask posted on his front door.  David can often be seen scootering up Walkup Ave. to the store on his motorized wheel chair. Both James and David will talk your ear off. Of course, my buddy William would always pull me aside and preach to me excitedly about Jesus.  These are some of my friends I have met.

 

I can't forget Johnny, Charnika, Alma, Jahadar, Ernestine or Worthewthel.  When I first met Worthel, it was because I thought it was Ernestine's trailer.  I was there with a big box of groceries so I asked if they needed some food.  They did, he was (and remains) out of work. At the time It was just he and his wife, and they cared part-time for the grand kids. Now they have 8 or 9 full-time residents there! 

 

Needless to say we know a number of folks in the neighborhood.  Twice now we have had a party in the area.  The last one had around 300 people in attendance. Some may ask why does Common Cupboard do this?  Truly, it is just out of the abundance of God's love for this neighborhood that we go and bless them.  We want to be Christ's arms hugging these folks.  We want to stand with them as this very diverse neighborhood comes together.  And, truthfully.  we are always blessed! We expect that April 25th will be an even bigger blast, and greater blessing. 

 

What goes into making this .  In addition to free food, clothing, and  hot dogs, there will be clowns, face painting, balloons, and music.  Throw in some drama, big bouncy things for kids to play in and maybe some games.  Then mix it up with God's love, helpers from 6 or 7 churches,  and a few other ingredients that God will bring together on that day and we have the recipe for a heavenly treat.

 

If you have some love you want to share...  If you have a few hugs to pass out or some words of kindness...  And if you can share a little hospitality with some new friends, why not join in and help.  We just want to be bringing joy to the neighborhood!

 

Email me, Keith, at kadams720@gmail.com if you want more info.  We need set up help starting around 9:30, the festival will start around 10:30, and I expect we will start cleaning up around 3 pm.  It will be a great day.  Pray for sun! 

"Spring Festival" Neighborhood Party in Monroe

Mark your Calendar 

& Make your Plans ....

Spring Festival in Castle Rd Neighborhood

Saturday, April 25 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

We threw a big party last October in in Betty's back yard for the folks that live in this neighborhood off Walkup Ave in Monroe.  It was a great time. We brought together a diverse group of people to serve this ethnically diverse neighborhood. We encourgaed hearts with God's love. We gave away free groceries and clothing. We served free hot dogs & soda.  Some painted faces, some tied balloons, some played music and sang, but we basically showed God's kindness and love to people.

 

Well it is time to do it all again ... only BIGGER.  We would love to make it a real festival and have things like clowns, jugglers, sketch artists, magic tricks, moon bounce, games, prizes, pony ride, petting zoo, more diverse music, anything we can do to brighten the day and show God's kindness to this neighborhood. 

 

What we need people who will ...

1. Pray for the success of this outreach.

2. Help plan and make it happen.

3. Lend their specific talents and connections to the effort.

4. Donate financially to help pay for the party.

5. Solicit sponsors for prizes and gifts from Monroe area stores, restuarants, etc.

6. Speak spanish and relate to non-english speaking residents.

7. Be there just to help out where needed.

 

We want you and your local church to be involved.  It is a great opportunity for families, small groups, large and small chruches to come together and serve in such a way that people are drawn by God's love to Christ. 

Virtual Food Drive

We want to bring to you a very urgent need. We are heading into our biggest weekend of deliveries of the month and the shelves are pretty bare!  Would you help us put some non-perishable foods on our shelves?  Since the need is urgent we have put together a shopping list below, so you can participate in this food drive via your computer.   

 

The money raised will go directly to buying food to stock the cupboard for this weekend. To donate your "virtual food" through PayPal please click the donate button next to the desired "bag", "case" or "shopping cart" of groceries.

 

If you prefer to send a check please make it payable to Common Heart and send it to the address on the side bar. Thank you so much. Your participation will help those in need in our community this weekend.

 

Thank you very much for you help,     

The Common Cupboard Crew

PS.  Just scroll down to participate in our "Virtual Food Drive."

2009 Common Heart Banquet

We have set a tentative date for our first banquet.  October 22 is the date.  We are pulling together the team right now who will be planning and pulling it off.  The first planning meeting will be Monday, March 9, at The Commonplace.  

I am looking forward to it.  It will be a great opportunity to get the word out about, share the vision, have some fun, raise some funds, and network with folks sharing a common heart for God and his mission locally.  

--Keith

An Amazing Connection: A Common Cupboard Story by Robin Black

It wasn't planed but Deb Adams called one day and asked if I wanted to do brunch and we went and we talked so long she realized she was late getting the van back for Frank to take to Second Harvest. She asked if I had time to go there with her and pick up food for the pantry. I said, "sure, I've never been there and I could see what its all about."

After getting the food while the guys were packing the van I was standing by the parking lot. A car pulled up and I saw a woman smiling at me. She got out of the car and came right up to me telling me how she saw me on TV yesterday and how I said I would be here at Second Harvest today. I stopped her and explained that she must be mistaken me for someone else; I wasn't on TV. She took my hand in her hands and said, "Yes, I saw you on TV yesterday and you said you would be here at Second Harvest and you would help me".

So I asked her what she needed, and she told me she needed help getting food to her mother. I looked over at her car to see a sweet, elderly woman sitting in the passenger seat. I went over to meet her. I asked Phyllis, the woman who approached me, where her mother lived and she told me Matthews and she lives in Charlotte, raising her grandbaby who was in the back seat, and that they could also use some help if possible. She told me how her mother, Sara, had such bad arthritis and how she had taken her for a shot of cortisone the week before but, now the pain was back and she didn't want her giving into the pain. This was something I was so familiar with. I told her I could get her some help and she gave me the contact information I needed. I explained that I may not be the person to deliver the food since I already had some disabled woman I delivered to. Phyllis once again took my hand in hers and said, "I hope it will be you then maybe some time I could have you over for a cook out."

Well, at that moment I knew It was meant for me. When my son and I went to Sara's house to bring the food, I saw how hard it was for her to get around with just the use of a cane. My heart just broke for her thinking of her living there all alone and struggling, and her daughter going back and forth trying to help while raising her granddaughter. I helped her unpack the food and showed her I had brought some hot/cold packs and cream for her arthritis, she said she needed it now and put it into her robe pocket. I told her next month when I come I may have some different things for her depending on what we got in.

Tears started pouring down her face and she asked, "You're coming back?" I explained that I would come once a month and bring her some groceries. With tears streaming down her face we simply hugged there in her kitchen, the only words spoken were "God bless you". I knew I was the one that was truly blessed that day. That God would let me see how he works; I knew I was where I was supposed to be.

What Phyllis saw or heard on TV, how she knew I would be at Second Harvest that day when I didn't know I was going to 15 minutes before I went well......Only God knows. I was so glad that my heart was open to the message I was sent that day

Why a new blog?

Good question.  If you have followed my personal blog Notes Along the Way you know that I have used it to share a lot about the cupboard.  I have used it to share stories from the cupboard as well as videos and pictures.  I have also used it to talk about my personal journey, my personal musings on theology and life, as well as miscellaneous things that catch my attention.  About ten months ago we started the website TheCommonplace.org to begin to separate out some of the items about what we do at Common Cupboard.  But, the website is pretty static and unchanging so I still needed a place to post news, notes, stories and thoughts from the Cupboard.  So I thought it would be good to start a new place where I can put all these things and bring a more personal focus to Notes Along The Way.

There will be some cross posting between the two sites, vut Common Cupboard Journal will be the "official" web journal of Common Cupboard.