New Milford church feeds God’s flock

BY TOM FONTANA
Correspondent

“For he is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under his care.” (Psalm 95:7)

Members of the New Milford United Methodist Church are committed to caring for God’s flock in their community.

“We realize that there is a need for food and clothing in our area,” explains Ron Strohl, a church member and guiding force behind the church’s growing monthly project, “Feed My Sheep.”

Two years ago, Strohl gathered some of his church friends, and convinced them of the need to “spread some good.”

“We came up with a plan and presented it to our congregation,” he says, “and donations immediately began coming in.”

Those donations were mostly in the form of cash, which was then used to purchase non-perishable food items to be distributed at the church. The first pantry was held in March 2012, and about 31 people were fed.

“Our goal was to provide food late in the month when people’s money is running short,” Strohl says, “so we picked the morning of the fourth Saturday of each month.”

It didn’t take long for the word to spread that help was available, and food donations were acquired through Feed America, connected to the Weinberg Foundation, a charitable organization in Wilkes-Barre. Even the local Pump-N-Pantry gets involved, providing cooler and freezer space for foods that need refrigeration until it’s distributed.

According to Strohl’s estimate, the church served about 145 families this past March, which amounts to nearly 425 people.

From 35 to 40 volunteers gather at the church on the Friday evening before the Saturday distribution to separate and bag food items according to various family sizes. On Saturday morning, those volunteers distribute the food from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is also a free, sit-down lunch served at noon.

“And the lunch isn’t just a sandwich and a drink,” states volunteer Heather Wiggins. “It’s a good, hot, tasty meal, with something for everyone.”

Free clothing is also available – neatly arranged according to gender, age and size – on the second floor of the church’s community center, with a particularly large selection for children. “Clothe My Sheep” opens at 10 a.m., an hour before the food distribution.

Although the church hall is packed with food on distribution day, Strohl says, “There are still a lot of hungry people out there, so we keep doing this every month, and can always use more volunteers to help out.”

In John 21:17, Jesus quizzes his disciple Simon Peter three times with the question, “Do you love me?” Peter finally replies, “Lord you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus responds, “Then feed my sheep.”

Jesus’ command to Peter to ‘feed’ was meant as ‘spread the Word,’ and the New Milford Methodist Church is spreading the word that every fourth Saturday of each month anyone needing food, clothing and fellowship is welcome.