FOOD Insecurity Experience

First Presbyterian Church of Granville

A huge and heartfelt thank you to the Youth Group, Mike Schmidt, Patty Hussey and Ellen Clark – Director of Christian Education from the First Presbyterian Church, Granville!

On May 15, 2021 a group of teenagers and adults arrived at the front door of the Market Street Pantry. They backed up their cars and started unloading bags and bags of food items. Unbeknownst to me and the volunteers at the Market Street Pantry, the youth of our neighbor - First Presbyterian Church, had participated in a Food Insecurity Experience and were graciously donating the food that they had bought and used in the project. I was elated and speech less. Mike Schmidt and Ellen Clark filled me in on the project.

They explained that the youth group (7th – 12th grade) were studying The Gospel According to Matthew, and the youth came up with this project, planned it and executed it. With guidance from Patty Hussey and Mike Schmidt they planned an experience that had each youth paying a $30 entrance fee ($5.00 went to the MSP and $25 was used as their purse). Each participant arrived at Ross’ Granville Market and was told to go shopping and purchase enough food for a family of 4,  for 3 days’ worth of meals.  Every so often during their shopping, they would be interrupted and thrown a twist - for example: “You need to purchase a prescription so now you need to decide what you are going to give up or keep in order to purchase the needed prescription”. It taught them about food insecurity and what many families face today. 

The food items were purchased (thanks to a 20% discount from Ross’) and then donated after the project to the Market Street Pantry!  The Youth Group also created a fundraising project and raised over $2100.00 to be presented to the Market Street Pantry next week.

WOW! JUST WOW! 

The Market Street Pantry continues to be blessed with generosity, love, and support from our wonderful community!

Dagny Gelormo – Co-Director Market Street Pantry