Our community outreach emphasis for the first month of 2010 is our local Community Food Pantry (CFP)!

Since it opened its doors in 1982, the mission of the CFP has been to provide food to the hungry within our area. Using Matthew 25 as inspiration, the CFP is the only pantry in the Richmond community that is open five days a week to serve residents. According to the Palladium-Item, "in 2008, the Pantry supplied 117,153 meals to 6,024 families. The number of meals provided through November 2009 has increased 8 percent
over 2008."* Furthermore, the CFP does not charge its clients for any of the food it provides nor does it have a paid staff. CFP operates with an all-volunteer staff and is funded by money and in-kind contributions from our community.

If you would like to support the work of the CFP in Richmond and beyond, you may place a donation in the Service Cup during the
Offertory, or make your check out to Richmond Church of the Brethren
with Outreach: Community Food Pantry in the memo line.

*Source: "Community Food Pantry's needs ever-increasing during tough times." December 13, 2009. Richmond Palladium-Item. Last accessed 31 December 2009. Available at the Pal-Item Online.