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!”

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. 

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!

In February, First Baptist will be participating in a Clothing Drive to benefit the Salvation Army.  If you are cleaning out your closets this holiday season, please hold on to items for the clothing drive.  Do not bring items to the church until collection dates are announced.

On Saturday, December 11, we will host our annual Christmas Brunch.  The Brunch is an opportunity for us to open wide the doors of the church and invite low income and homeless families to come in and eat a hearty breakfast, hear local choirs sing and pose for a family portrait in front of the Christmas tree. 

How can you help now?

Begin shopping for the items that will be given out during the Brunch.  We will begin collecting the items October 24. This year’s gifts are:     

• For families: a laundry basket with laundry detergent. 
• For children:  This year instead of giving away one large item, we are putting together Christmas stockings for the children.  You can help by bringing Christmas stockings and items for the stocking such as: Finger nail polish, barrettes, match box cars, crayons, coloring books, stickers, markers, pencils, hair brushes, small children’s books, Play-Doh.
• Hygiene kits for the homeless to include items like: soap, small bottles of shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, and deodorant. 
• Socks for adults and children.

Click here to sign up to help on December 11.  Print this form and return it to the church office by Wednesday, Dec. 1.

You are invited to join the FBC knitting club.  The group meets the first Thursday of each month at the church to fellowship and knit!  In 2009 and in 2010 over 200 hats were given to children who attended our annual Christmas Brunch.  Now the Knitting Club is  working on making lap blankets for our homebound members.  The Knitting Club is a fun way to serve those in need.