After a year of planning, the First Baptist Food Co-op is finally underway. The Food Co-op  creates true food security for people by providing food for families in need every two weeks.
Currently, ten families are participating, which is providing food for a total of 46 people with families ranging in size from two to seven individuals.

Co-op participants contribute a $3 handling fee and members unload the truck themselves and divide the food into boxes according to family size. A medium-size family usually receives about $100 worth of food on the retail market. Before and after the arrival and distribution of the food, members join together as a community to offer support, prayer, and encouragement for one another.

The Food Co-op exists not only to meet the participants’ physical needs but to minister to their spiritual needs as well. To learn more, contact Carol McEntyre, Community Minister at 246-4661 or cmcentyre@fbcknox.org.

First Baptist’s Food Co-op will be an opportunity for low income families to have food security, along with a community of people for fellowship and support. You may be wondering how the Food Co-op works. Here’s an example of a typical Food Co-op day. 

A buyer (initially a church volunteer, but responsibility will eventually fall to a Co-op member) will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank and buy enough food for the families currently participating in the Co-op, with consideration for size and needs of the families. As the food is being bought and delivered to the church, the Co-op members will begin to gather in Trentham Hall. They will pay their $3 membership fee and begin setting up boxes for the food to be divided into. When the truck arrives with the food, Co-op members will unload it and then divide the food, depending on family size, into the boxes. After everything is divided, the Co-op meeting begins. Attendance is taken, and the floor is opened for prayer requests that members may want to express. Then, a Co-op member will offer a devotional, prayer or song depending on the gifts within the group. The Co-op meeting will sometimes include a program on a topic such as the pitfalls of pay-day lending or how to reduce utility bills. After the meeting, Co-op members take their food home.

 ”Give to the poor (Matthew 19:21).” When Jesus is talking with the rich young ruler he tells him to sell all he has and give to the poor. The man leaves sad because he has great wealth. While we’re not all asked to give everything to the poor, it’s definitely something we should each think through. Well, two precious ladies did just that!

Elizabeth Day, HPRP Housing Case Manager, came into her office at FBC to find a row of six laundry baskets stuffed full of household items. There were towels, wash clothes, set of sheets, a pillow, dishes and silverware. Along with the items were notes from each lady:

“May God bless you in your ministry. I pray these things will help lift the spirits of your clients and give the opportunity to share Christ with them.”

“TND, I hope it’s okay to leave these baskets here at FBC. They are for your clients. Thank you for your work. I appreciate you and the ministry to the ladies. I was in attendance when you were the guest speaker last year at WOM here at FBC. You continue in my prayers.”

What a treat for ladies who are starting over in their own homes! One client remarked,  “Are you sure it’s for me? Really? They don’t even know who I am!” To which she was told “Yes they do … you are a daughter of the King!”

What an incredible way to show  God’s love in a tangible way! On behalf of Elizabeth Day and The Next Door, Knoxville … “Thank you!”

FISH is a cooperative community food distribution service. It operates Monday – Friday, 52 weeks a year. The first Monday of each month, volunteers work in First Baptist’s pantry from 9a–1p handing out groceries to families. Contact Rusty Philips, 673-0203.

During the month of February we collected clothing for the Salvation Army. There were 3,350 pounds of clothing donated.

FBC and the Bridge lunch attendees together donated a total of $4,422.99 which was given to Second Harvest Food Bank to help with damages from the flooding last month.

First Baptist’s Mission Council is launching a food co-op for low income families.   A meeting of those interested in becoming a member of the food co-op will be on Tuesday, July 5, at 10:00 am in Trentham Hall.

The food co-op will differ from a food pantry in the following ways:

• The co-op will serve fewer people, but these people will have food security.  We will begin with 14 families who will receive food every other week; they don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from.
• Families pay a $3 membership fee each time the co-op meets.
• Families do the work of the co-op, including unloading the truck, distributing the food, collecting the money and eventually shopping for the food themselves.
• After the food is distributed, the co-op meeting begins.  Neighbors may discuss everything from prayer concerns to the business of the co-op.

If you would like to volunteer to help with this ministry as we begin, please contact Carol McEntyre. 

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Beginning Sunday February 6, First Baptist will begin collecting gently used clothing for The Salvation Army. The donated clothing will be distributed through their thrift stores (five in our area). The Salvation Army thrift stores provide jobs in our community, and proceeds from the stores go to fund their programs and services. In addition, people in our community in need of clothing can get vouchers from Salvation Army’s Emergency Assistance office to use in the thrift stores. This is an easy way for First Baptist to help The Salvation Army stock their thrift stores, to raise funds for their programs and clothe people in need.

Items may be dropped off at the Hill Street entrance between the sanctuary and education buildings on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, February 6 – February 27. For more information, or to get involved, contact Ken and Frances Casey at 524-4785; Carol McEntyre, 246-4661 or cmcentyre@fbckmnox.org.

Our donations help the Salvation Army continue their work, which began its work in Knoxville in 1899 and now serves a five-county region. They have four residential programs on their campus located on Broadway; two for men and two for women, including the Joy Baker Center, a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

Last year, the organization helped over 300 people move from a state of homelessness to independence. Their Employment Assistance program helps to expedite this process.

Their largest single program is Emergency Assistance; keeping people in their homes by assisting with utilities, food, clothing, furniture, fuel, etc. This program alone touches nearly 20,000 people annually.

At Christmas time approximately 2,500 families are helped through the Angel tree program, Christmas stockings and Christmas food baskets.

 Also well known for Disaster Services, The Salvation Army mobile kitchen is deployed all over the Southeast to provide food, water and spiritual care to disaster victims in time of need.

Thanksgiving Baskets can be about more than food

For the past several years, First Baptist has made Thanksgiving Baskets for families at South Knoxville Elementary School. Sunday school classes or the Mom’s Connection group has put the baskets together and then, delivered them to the school for distribution. This method has worked great for getting Thanksgiving Baskets to families, but we have missed out on the opportunity to get to know the families who receive the food. We have missed out on the chance to connect with people in need, get to know them and share Christ’s love with them in person. With this in mind, the Missions Council is working toward making all our community ministries more relationally based. How do you make a Thanksgiving Basket relational? We decided to try.

So, this year, instead of making the baskets and sending them to South Knoxville Elementary for distribution, we issued tickets to families who needed baskets, inviting them to come to First Baptist and make their own basket. Families arrived in our fellowship hall and mingled with our Mom’s Connection group. They ate breakfast together, and then, shared their favorite Christmas memories around the table. Laughter filled the room as people got to know each other. Then, families were invited to put together their own baskets, choosing the items that they wanted. The social worker at South Knoxville Elementary attended the event. Afterward, she said, “This was great. No one left here today feeling like they had received a hand out.” Instead, we all left feeling surrounded by Christ’s love and embraced by friends at First Baptist Church.

On the First Sunday of Each Month–Peanut Butter Only in 16 to 18 oz. jars. 

Please bring peanut butter  on the first Sunday of each month to help reduce the budget expenditure for the FISH pantry. Thank you for helping!