BERKELEY – The cars lined up down the street starting as early as 2:15 even though the event wouldn’t open until 5 p.m. All of them were there for Potter’s Pantry set up outside Cedar Creek Community Church.
The influx of cars shows just how much it’s needed. Kathryn Hess, who chairs the pantry, said that by way of example, on one day, they served 83 families in two and a half hours. Of that, there were 217 adults and 109 children.
Every driver that pulls up is asked how many people the food will feed, she said. That’s the only question they are asked. They are not required to show financial information.
Well, that’s not the only question. There is enough variety in some items that they are asked what they would like. People drive by the tables and the volunteers offer them produce, baby supplies, or whatever other item they have at that spot. This way, Hess said, visitors get what they know they will use instead of a box of well-meaning but generic items that might not be what they want or need. It’s kind of like shopping in that way.
The pantry is drive-through now, because of the pandemic. The volunteers stand out in the cold every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and put items in people’s trunks.
Donations come in from all over, such as His Mercies Ministries in Howell, Plentiful Plates in Toms River, and Fulfill. Several businesses donated as well, but this article won’t list them because it wouldn’t be fair if one or more is left out. They also get donations from local residents. While The Berkeley Times was there, someone dropped off $100 in gift certificates for Aldi’s.
H&M Potter Elementary held an ice pop sale that brought in an amazing $539. That paid for $500 worth of meat that was steeply discounted by a butcher in Lacey. So people had chicken, ground beef, flounder and their choice of steak, brisket or ribs.
The previous week, they were almost out of meat. So, between the miracle of getting all that meat and the bread donation every week, there’s an easy comparison to the parable of the loaves and fishes.
“God shows up so big here,” Hess said.
Desserts are given out for kids, and dogs get a biscuit, because everyone deserves a treat.
Certain items, if they don’t expire, are held until they have 100 of them. That way, every car gets one. No one wants to go through and be shortchanged because something ran out. The reason the line starts so early is so that people get the best choices.
Hess said it was amazing that all this comes from a church that only has about 20 families in attendance on a Sunday.
“This whole community is full of such caring people,” she said.
How To Help
Like any nonprofit, the most important thing is dependable volunteers. Hess said you can stop by any Thursday. In the early morning, they work inside. They take a break and then at around 2:30 p.m., they set up the tables and sort the food. You can give as little or as much time as you are able.
If you’d like to donate money, you can send a check to the Cedar Creek Community Church, 370 Nixon Avenue, Berkeley, care of Potter’s Pantry.
Another way to help is to simply pray, Hess said, for the people to get what they need.
For more information, email HessShore@Verizon.net.
