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SNAP Relief

Details

Hi Renewal Family,

There are many great organizations that are mobilizing to help provide Memphians with food during this current crisis caused by the government shutdown and the suspension of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

Many organizations are requesting gift cards or food donations; this help is great and very needed, so I can share several of these opportunities if that is how your group is feeling led to help. But our group wanted to get relationally closer to the need during this time. So we reached out to Service Over Self (SOS), a trusted ministry that can put us in touch directly with a family in need of groceries. Not surprisingly, they have several families who have transportation barriers and difficulty accessing other resources.

Would your Community Group like to be connected with a family and provide direct grocery assistance until SNAP benefits are restored? This is an ask without a clear end date.

Additional Details

  1. Decide as a group the capacity of food assistance you can offer. Example: Groceries for one large family, two smaller families, a grandma that also supports grandkids. Think how many people your group can support with weekly groceries.
  2. Commit to grocery shop each week for this family and deliver groceries to their home. You can grocery shop as a family (what a great opportunity to include your kids!) or a few of you from your group can partner up each week to shop and deliver.
  3. When you deliver the groceries, take a few minutes to connect with the family, but also do not over-stay.

Express that you understand that times are especially difficult right now and ask if there are specific ways you can pray for them throughout the week. And diligently pray for them.

On our side, we will coordinate...

  1. Matching Community Groups with families in need.
  2. Providing basic demographic information on the family and their contact information.
  3. Giving some best practices, safety considerations, and ongoing support as you serve in ways that may be new to you.

If your group is ready to say yes, email me and let me know how many people your group wants to support. Time is of the essence, so talk this week as a community group and decide.

No promises on where this could take you and your community group. We ask that you commit through this current crisis and that your group begins praying about what the next steps could be as you get to know this family through food delivery.

I hope to hear from many of you soon!

Catherine Gross