Church Food Bank Still Serving

On any given weekday morning, the Gold Canyon Food Bank at Gold Canyon United Methodist Church is ready to serve those in need. Volunteers keep the shelves stocked with food items donated by church members and others in the community. Church employees assist clients and volunteers alike – and they all reach out with a smile! Even with little publicity, this small food bank has served up to 30 families during a one week period. For many people who struggle to make ends meet, the help the food bank gives with food, paper products, diapers, and toiletries makes a big difference.

The Gold Canyon Food Bank began as a small project through the church’s Mission Outreach activities. In 1993, now Missions Director Colette Bos received a call from God to serve. One day, Colette got the idea that the church could keep a few food items in a closet in the church to help those who wandered in looking for help.

Today, the GCUMC food bank looks like a very small grocery, complete with refrigerator and freezers. Now that there is some room, the greatest problem is keeping it stocked. Church members are faithful in bringing items in. Each Sunday, the food donation baskets are filled to over-flowing, and throughout the week, people drop by with donations for the food bank. However, the demand created by serving 15 to 30 families per week is a formidable one.

The future of the Gold Canyon food bank is limitless. The church has been serving the poor and the homeless since 1993. The congregation cares about the ministry and has made it a priority to serve. It is a wonderful, loving church, and it is the members who make such outreach a success. As more individuals come asking for help, the food bank undergoes an evolutionary process. New needs present themselves as the number of clients increases. For instance, the need for diapers presented itself, as has a need for other paper products and sanitary items.

The food bank also accepts donations of pet foods. For many elderly or homeless clients, a pet is a companion and a protection. If the food bank is able to help feed these loving “family members,” then it has helped improve the client’s daily life.

The food bank serves clients Monday through Friday: from 8:30 am to 12:00 Noon.

Donations may be dropped off between 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, as well as Sunday Mornings during service hours. For more information, contact the church office at 480-982-3776 or email at goldcanyonumc@mindspring.com.