Loaves and Fishes (Open Pantry) –  On the 4^th Saturday of each month, a team of church members, (we have 4 teams), arrives at the church at 3:00 and prepares a meal (entree, fruit, rice, and dessert) then delivers the food to South Congregational Church in Springfield at 5:00. We then serve an average of 90 guests. The South Congregational church staff helps with the clean-up and we are back at the church by 6:00.

Giving Tree – Our members hang red envelopes containing gift cards on a Christmas tree in the Sanctuary. The gift cards are then delivered to the East Longmeadow Council On Aging just before Christmas. The staff then distributes the cards to anyone in need anytime throughout the year.

Grocery bags (Kensington School) – One day each week during the school year volunteers fill 5 bags with essential grocery items from our food pantry (peanut butter and jelly, pasta and sauce, rice, canned vegetables and fruit, etc. And of course cookies). Five families selected by the school staff then receive a full bag of groceries from our pantry.

Food Pantry (Kensington School) – Twice a year, (Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day) we ask our church members to fill a grocery bag with non-perishable food items to stock our food pantry with a variety of essential items: canned meats, canned veggies and fruits,  rice, cereals, beans etc.. to feed hungry families in need  at Kensington School.

School Supplies (Kensington School) –  Each year in July and August our church members donate much needed school supplies. These supplies are sorted and delivered just before the beginning of the school year for the teachers to distribute, making sure every student has all the essential tools they need to start the year. Some people choose to donate money so a check is delivered to the school to purchase items they still need.

Hats, scarves and mittens (Kensington School) – Church members donate new and/or gently used hats, scarves, gloves and mittens.  We deliver these items as they come in throughout the winter to keep the children warm.
 

Warm Coat Drive (Springfield Rescue Mission) – New and/or gently used warm clothing, shoes and boots, new underwear and socks are donated by church members, as well as the community. The items are sorted and then delivered in early winter ensuring that our neighbors are warm.

Community Tree Lighting – This community event starts when Santa arrives at the church on a firetruck at the end of a lighted truck parade usually the first Friday in December.  He greets the families gathered around the Christmas tree and as the crowd counts down flips the switch to light the tree. Santa then invites all to join him in our Fellowship Hall for candy canes, cookies and hot cocoa.

Toiletries (YWCA)– A wide variety of toiletries and new/gently used books are donated by church members as well as the community and delivered to the Springfield YWCA.  These essential items are then given to mothers and their children who needed to seek shelter, fleeing domestic abuse and have arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Clothes drives like “Mercy Clothes” where we collect clothing and blankets for children.