Chili cook off to benefit A Storehouse for Jesus
Published 5:28 pm Tuesday, March 6, 2018
- Volunteers stock the shelves at A Storehouse for Jesus.
By Alice Hanes
Storehouse Volunteer
A Storehouse For Jesus is an independent, non-profit Christian ministry helping those in need and reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Storehouse was the first major food pantry in Davie County and grew from a calling from God. In January 1993, Marie Collins, founder and executive director, found a small abandoned home on Yadkin Valley Road in Advance, (with no water and, for a significant amount of time, without electricity) where people came for food, clothing, and household items.
Collins would also offer to share the Gospel and pray for and with clients, if they were comfortable with her doing that. When a portion of the front porch gave out, she would meet clients in parking lots to deliver goods.
The ministry was incorporated in May 1994 and was granted it’s 501C3 status in December 1994.
The Storehouse moved to the former Martin Hardware Building on Depot Street in Mocksville in September 1995, and began to attract more notice and help from the county’s vibrant church community and civic groups. The volunteer corps grew, as did the donations. ”This community and the surrounding communities have been extremely supportive and generous throughout the past 25 years,” Collins said.
The only time Storehouse had a fund raiser was for the newest building, in the early 2000s. Donations came from individuals, foundations, businesses and churches, among other sources; much of the work done on the building was pro-bono. The Storehouse grew into a 27,500-square foot building at 675 E. Lexington Road, Mocksville, and moved there in September 2006.
For low income people of Davie County and surrounding counties, Storehouse is a blessing that provides food, clothing, household items, haircuts, children’s birthday closet, and hot showers. For Davie, Storehouse provides school supplies, Thanksgiving program, Christmas program for children, special needs adults and seniors, medical clinics, and pharmacy. The ministry prays that all who walk through their doors receive encouragement and hope.
The morning is begun with prayer in the lobby with clients and volunteers. If the client wishes, the interviewer prays with the client and shares the Gospel. The Plan of Salvation is in the Client Handbooks and monthly devotionals and at-home Bible studies are available for clients to take home.
In 2017, 73% of distribution ministries clients work, are on Social Security, SSI or disability. Ninety percent of the clients live below the Federal Poverty Level; 49% of the clients are children; 34% of clients do not own a vehicle.
The Distribution Ministries served 1,416 unduplicated families (5,599 individuals), with a total of 5,079 household visits.
In 2017, the Medical Ministries Clinics treated 554 unduplicated patients, with 2,066 visits. Pharmacy dispensed 15,286 prescriptions (not counting over-the-counter meds), at a value of $1,744,125, to 645 unduplicated patients, with 3,732 pharmacy visits.
“The Storehouse is audited yearly by Canon & Company, and year-after-year, 97-98% of all incoming money goes directly to client and patient services,” Collins said. This number is so high because no one is paid at Storehouse, not even Collins.
In 2016, 483 volunteers logged more than 50,500 hours. A total of 132 volunteers each worked 100 to 2,500 hours.
Cynthia Baldwin, volunteer coordinator, asks: “Do you need something fulfilling in your life…maybe to feel blessed at the end of the day? Volunteers at A Storehouse for Jesus will tell you that is how they feel after a day serving those in need and the fellowship they have working with other volunteers.”
There are many areas where volunteers may
help in the medical and distribution ministries.
In Medical Ministries, providers, nurses, and pharmacy techs are needed, as well as back-up pharmacists. Call 336-753-8080, and speak to Dr. George Kimberly; nurses and lab technicians should speak to Sister Martha Hoyle; pharmacists and pharm techs should speak to Bob Rauch; and interested volunteers in the Medication Assistance Program should speak to Jannie Wallace.
Church groups or individuals are needed to provide Thursday evening clinic meals for 25 volunteers – most of whom come to Storehouse from work. To help with this, speak with Lori Bostian.
In Distribution Ministries, drivers are needed to pick up food from area stores 9-11 a.m. Sunday-Saturday; receptionist (Monday morning); check-out volunteers Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings and Tuesday afternoons; food pantry workers on Thursday mornings; clothing sorters and hangers on Monday and Wednesdays; help with lawn maintenance throughout the week. For more information on volunteering in any of these areas, please contact Cynthia Baldwin at Storehouse on Tuesdays at 336-753-8081 or 336-751-1060.
Deep Roots Mocksville Community Garden, a project started by First United Methodist Church, that benefits several food pantries in Davie Country, also needs volunteers. The gardens are at Storehouse and Clement Street, Mocksville. For information, please call Diane Salmon at 336-492-2360.
If volunteering does not fit your schedule, remember that hunger knows no season. Davie County school will be on spring break the first week of April. Students who receive free- or reduced-cost breakfast and lunch will be missing out on a week’s worth of meals. How can you help?
Organize a food drive at your place of work or church. Storehouse’s food pantry needs include eggs, juices, baked beans, small canned hams, salmon, Spam, muffin mix, applesauce, and turnip greens. The shopping area needs breakfast bars, pudding, nuts, soups, Manwich, school snacks, coffee, tea, vegetable oil, canned vegetables, tomato products, cornmeal, flour and beef jerky.
Also needed are bath towels and cloths, sheets, blankets, cereal bowls, silverware, pots and pans, children’s’ clothing (4T-teens), maternity clothing, plus size men and women’s clothing, baby wipes, diapers (sizes newborn, 1, 3-6), laundry detergent, shampoo, deodorant, and feminine products.
Storehouse invites you to bring your church group, business, or family to take a tour. Visitors are usually surprised when they see first-hand how the ministry works.
The next fundraising event for Storehouse is Mocksville First United Methodist Church Missions Committee’s 16th annual Chili Cook Off Wednesday, March 14, at 5:30 p.m. in the church Family Life Center. There will be at least 20 chili cooks competing in the following categories: mild, medium, hot, miscellaneous, vegan, venison and poultry. Winners will receive a certificate and bragging rights. There will be a tossed salad with sides of sour cream, shredded cheese, Tostitos, cornbread, and crackers, as well as iced tea and coffee - and desserts galore? Master of ceremonies is Sgt. Alana Geiger, DARE officer with the Davie Sheriffs Department. Judges are John Eller, Davie manager; Will Marklin, mayor of Mocksville; and Ellen Drexler, clerk of court.
Collins will present a short program and answer questions during the meal. Joey Osborne, a Storehouse volunteer, is scheduled to play the piano as diners are served. All funds raised will go to Storehouse. Diners are encouraged to bring bags of non-perishable food items to help fill the shelves. Check to see if you have extra on your pantry shelves to share and help feed the hungry in our community.
First United Methodist Church holds Wednesday night meal fundraisers at the church throughout the year, with proceeds benefiting community non-profit organizations, such as A Storehouse For Jesus, Davie County Family Promise, Deep Roots Community Garden, Dragonfly House, and Just Hope.
The church delivers meals to the homeless through the WHEN 0rogram and also to Winston-Salem Hospice.
