WC organizations can help local food kitchen

by wcwitness

bby Helterbrand and Nate Godby wipe tables down after serving dinner with Faith in Action.

Megan McDonough
Staff Writer

If someone has driven by Sugartree Ministries anytime recently, one of the first things noticed is probably the bright blue sign outside that says, “We Need Food!”

Sugartree Ministries is a multi-functioning Christian ministry in the heart of Wilmington.  It provides food in Our Father’s Kitchen, a soup kitchen and free store; offers church services; runs a coffee shop and hosts concerts.  Jeff Tewksbury, Sugartree’s assistant director, says that “the soup kitchen serves hot meals to 100-150 people a day and provides free groceries to 200-300 families per week.”  However, Our Father’s Kitchen is currently running short on food.

“A lot of it’s the time of the year.  School’s coming back in, so families with kids who usually donate are buying school supplies,” Tewksbury says.  July and August are “usually pretty light (in donations) for us, and it’s just been lighter than usual this year,” he added.

For those who want to help, there are many ways to get involved.  Food drives can be held, but “there are all sorts of ways you can get creative and help…If you raise ten dollars in change, you have almost two flats of vegetables,” according to Tewksbury.

Tewksbury said that one thing that makes a large impact on Our Father’s Kitchen is the support and actions of Faith in Action. Faith in Action is an organization at Wilmington College that aims to spread joy and a message of love through service to others.  Members of this group serve dinner each Friday night, and cook that Friday dinner one night a month. Additionally, the club assists in cleaning Sugartree’s facilities each Tuesday evening.

Faith in Action president Nick Elwert said that the organization is currently planning on directly helping with the ministry’s need for more food.

“We plan on organizing several food drives in which we will highlight Sugartree’s specific food needs,” he said.  Currently these needs include macaroni and cheese, fruits, soup, peanut butter, Spaghetti O’s and ravioli, sugar and canned meat, he added. Tewksbury emphasizes the need for peanut butter, canned meat and canned fruits.

Many sororities and fraternities on campus help the ministry as well. They serve meals on a weekly basis and hold canned food drives throughout the year.  Sports teams also get involved,  such as the softball team’s recent food drive.

There are a number of ways in which WC students have, and currently are, making a difference for Sugartree. Whether someone is just looking for volunteer hours, or is part of an organization that serves on a regular basis, the Elwert says the bottom line is to “simply get involved.  We all can take the initiative to make a difference.”

For more information on ways to help, visit www.sugartree.org or call (937) 382.-8359.