Holy Spirit Episcopal Church is committed to reaching out in service to our neighbors and friends in the community:
The Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry is a joint venture begun in 2006 between our church and our Belmont neighbors, Assumption BVM Catholic Church. The pantry is located here at Holy Spirit, and is open one evening a week, on Thursday from 6-7:30 pm. It operates as a satellite support pantry of North Kent Connect (NKC) (formerly North Kent Community Services), through Access of West Michigan. Clients of NKC are welcome to use our food pantry. For more information on becoming a client, visit nkconnect.org/clients or call NKC at (616) 866-3478. PLEASE NOTE: If you are in need of immediate food or housing assistance, please call 2-1-1 (800-887-1107), as North Kent Connect is not an emergency service center.
As a Pantry of Choice, clients are assisted by volunteers to shop for the foods they like and will use. The pantry is considered an emergency pantry, meaning each family will receive enough food for two to three days, based on household size. Our pantry takes pride in offering healthy choices and fresh options and also offers personal care items.
In 2019, the pantry served 329 family units. For many individuals, this was their first visit to our pantry. These families were made up of 1,018 people, receiving approximately 9,897 items of food and necessary supplies.
To keep the shelves stocked, members of each congregation regularly contribute food, as do Assumption BVM School students, Explore & Soar Reading Club, Frontline Church, Belmont USPS, Plainfield Christian Church, Hand to Hand, and Northview Public Schools. The pantry receives generous monetary donations from the two parishes and individual people.
In an effort to better serve clients, the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry is expanding and promoting its “personal care items” selection. As of May 2017, the following specific items are needed: full-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash/bar soap, deodorant/antiperspirant, toothpaste, and feminine products. Please drop off items before or after Sunday worship services, or during the pantry’s regular operating hours.
We are grateful for monetary donations. Checks can be made payable to Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry and mailed to this church. All or part of your gift may be tax-deductible as a charitable contribution (please check with your tax adviser).
Visit www.facebook.com/BelmontFoodPantry for more food pantry news.