The Church of Grace & Peace

NEW HOURS:
Wednesday Evenings 6:30 pm 7 pm
Thursday Afternoons 1:00 pm 2 pm
Saturday Mornings 11:00am 12 noon

  Our food pantry continues to reach out to families in need in the surrounding communities. We have been serving approximately 240 families per month and had 31 salvations in 2014.
         As the needs continue to grow, our food donations continue to shrink. Every year we had Post Office drives in the spring and a Boy Scout drive in the fall. Two years ago, the Boys Scouts changed the food drive schedule by dropping off food at the pantries they picked and that year, no food was received. At last years Boy Scout drive we received two crates of food that lasted about one month. This year, all the donations from the Post Office drive went to the food bank. From the food bank we received two pallets of food that lasted a little more than a month. Not to worry, "GOD" is on the Throne; He always comes through with the power of prayer.
         According to a census taken in 2014, there are nearly one million people living in poverty in New Jersey. Since the last decade, it has grown by almost 250,000. The states poverty rate has jumped from 8.7% to 11.1% over the last ten years. Actually, it dropped from 11.4% to 11.1% from 2013-2014. This brings the number of people living in poverty to 973,000.
         The Department of Education shows that there are 10,303 homeless students living on the streets, in shelters, hotels or with other families. There was a jump of 19% from 2013-2014 school year. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, nationally, there are estimated 1.36 million homeless students.
         New Jersey lost 19,000 vouchers between 2010-2014 because of funding cuts to the Housing Choice Voucher Program by the government, however, there are charitable organizations like Covenant House that are reaching out to the youth.
         The church body needs to rise up, not the government, to care for, feed and clothe the poor. James 2:14-17 says what good is it, my brother, if a man claims to have faith but has not deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes or daily food,   if one says to him: "go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself if not accompanied by actions is dead.

* Make sure you check by calling the food pantry to confirm that they still are in operation and the hours have not changed.