Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry - ExecutiveDirMessage

The Best Christmas Gift

I have been volunteering at the pantry going on six (6) years and have seen and heard first-hand the hardships that our clients go through to survive in these hard times and this little story will give us all – something to think about. One of our clients came for her allocation after Christmas and with tears in her eyes asked us if we could help her because she had no hot water and is a single mom with three (3) small children. As always we stepped up to assist her the best way we could. We gave her referral numbers and allowed her to use our phone to place the calls so that she could get the assistance she needed. After placing the calls and speaking to the appropriate people she informed us that they were going to get back to her that day to help her resolve the situation. We started talking about Christmas and I asked her if she had signed up her children with us for Christmas. She said no because our list had been closed by the time she was able to come to the pantry. I told her no problem we had received extra toys to distribute and would give her some to give her children. I told her to tell her children that Santa was a little slow this year from eating too many cookies but did not forget them. We both laughed, which made me feel good that at least for one minute she was able to put aside her many hardships. What she told me next will stay with me always. She said she would be very grateful for anything we could give her because she had sat by her little Christmas tree crying knowing that there were no gifts for her children this year. She told her children that Santa would not be able to stop by this year and this was the response she received from her little girl – “Mommy don’t cry we have the best Christmas gift – we are together as a family”. This mom although going through very difficult times evidently has been teaching her children that material things are nice to have but family is the greatest gift of all regardless of the circumstances. In my eyes this little girl is truly special to realize this at such a young age and I think we can all learn something from her – don’t you think? – Maria

KMFP 2011 High Level Accomplishments:

Selected by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Committee to receive a grant toward the construction of our new building.

New Building Fund stands at over $170,000.00 (does not inc. CDBG allocation) from donations that have been received from 2005 to present.
18 – Towns served
The chart below provides a view from 2005 to present.

# of Families served	Total # of Adults Served	Total # of * Children Served
1084	1039	741
1142	2223	1558
1175	2330	1588
1396	2762	2013
2162	4206	3204
2380	4681	3152
2324	4378	2854

* Note: Children under the age of 18

100+ – Referrals for specific assistance (i.e. Veteran benefits, Utilities, Health, Financial, etc.)
60+ – Children received school supplies via donations received
160+ – Holiday Dinners (Thanksgiving and Christmas) distributed. The Holiday food came from the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and through a number of donations.
100+ – Families received children clothes and other items via donations we received.
313 – Children sponsored for Christmas gifts through the generosity of many individuals, businesses, churches and organizations.
Received an abundance of food and monetary donations toward food from a number of individuals, businesses, churches and organizations.

Please visit – our How You Can Help section to get information on how you can continue to support us. We ask that you please remember that Hunger and Need does not just occur during the Holiday Season and does not take a vacation – unfortunately for many it is part of their daily lives 365 days a year.

2012 Annual New Building Project Appeal – To all that have contributed to our building project during 2011 and past years, “Thank You”; your ongoing support and donations were truly appreciated. Our 2012 appeal letter and donation form will be mailed out to our past and potential supporters, as well as being available online, later this month. Although we were selected to receive an allocation from the CDBG we are still in need of funding for other things needed for the new building (i.e. refrigeration/freezer units, shelving, etc.), therefore all donations regardless of amount are appreciated. Please continue to help us in any way you can – remember “No donation is ever too small and all are deeply and truly appreciated”. Also, as we prepare to break ground and take the final steps to realizing this goal, you can further help to make it happen with the donation of $100 to buy a personalized brick in our "Pathway to Success."

In ending this New Year message I ask each and every one of you to please keep believing and supporting us throughout 2012 so that we may continue to provide our services to the many families that need our assistance and to also get a step closer to our new facility.

All of us at the KMFP continue to be eternally grateful for all you do for our organization and wish you and your families Health, Peace and Happiness in 2012.

As always “We could not and cannot do it without you”!