United Methodist Men from Grace United Methodist Church (Rockford), the UMC of New Lenox, and the Prairie North District partnered with Society of St. Andrew last fall to give away fresh produce and other basics to their neighbors.
These United Methodist Churches are a part of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference.
The give-away that took place at Grace UMC in October (with a satellite distribution site at Court Street UMC) distributed 42,000 pounds of potatoes (1.4 million servings of food) for people in seven counties. It caught the attention of Rockford WREX-TV’s newscast in October. Over the years, the Prairie North District has provided over 294,000 pounds of food to area residents through local community food pantries.
The New Lenox UMM hosted a drive-through event on Oct. 14 and distributed 45,000 pounds of potatoes, many crates of water, Starbucks coffee, graham crackers, and boxed cereal through the generosity of Hands of Hope of Illinois. Some 37 church pantries and government agencies also participated.
Church members and youth from Lincoln-Way West and Lincoln-Way Central High Schools made that very wet morning a success. They served people from as far north as Barrington and as far south as Wilmington.
A United Methodist–related ministry, SOSA directs salvaged potatoes (and other fresh produce) to churches and other organizations that provide food to those who need it. It is the America’s first and largest gleaning network.
The salvaged produce was rejected by commercial markets or potato chip factories due to slight imperfections in size, shape, sugar content, or surface blemishes. They are still safe to eat. Usually, these rejected loads end up at local landfills. Of all the food raised in the U.S., 133 billion pounds (40 percent) goes to waste each year while each year 40 million people in the U.S. struggle with access to food.
In 1974, the Northern Illinois Conference UMM and the then–Rockford District worked with SOSA as they began their ministry. The conference UMM have been the top financial supporters of SOSA in the connection, raising $70,846 over the last eight years.
To raise awareness for the organization, SOSA started offering “potato pins.” These were designed in Northern Illinois and are still in use today.
story by Steve Nailor (Grace: Rockford) & Robert Bruozas (New Lenox)
This story represents how United Methodist local churches through their Annual Conferences are living as Vital Congregations. A vital congregation is the body of Christ making and engaging disciples for the transformation of the world. Vital congregations are shaped by and witnessed through four focus areas: calling and shaping principled Christian leaders; creating and sustaining new places for new people; ministries with poor people and communities; and abundant health for all.
