First United Methodist Church Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen

First United Methodist Church Food Pantry is a food pantry and soup kitchen.

The First Church Food Pantry is a food distribution ministry which provides food to residents of St. Joseph County, Indiana. An average of 300 families a month are served. Our food pantry recently received the Northern Indiana Food Bank Award for Excellence.
Qualifications

Any person in need will be helped. The only qualification is that you must be a resident of St. Joseph County. Please bring a picture ID and proof of residency. No financial questions are asked. Guests are asked to limit their visits to once a month.
What you can do to help

Our Food Pantry is supported by donations of food and monetary gifts. Plus, we ask for prayers for those in need. You can support this ministry by making a monetary donation, making a food donation or by volunteering your time. Our Food Pantry needs approximately $3,000 per month to keep the shelves stocked.
Items the food pantry always needs

Cereal, juice, paper products, personal products, peanut butter and crackers. Click here for a complete list of most-needed items.
Hours

The Food Pantry is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.


Soup Kitchen
SERVING TIMES:  Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
ENTRANCE:  Use Building Entrance on Madison Street
 Serving Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the doors open to guests at 11:30 a.m. Cooking begins at 7:30 a.m. where at least four to six huge pots of hearty soup are prepared with special recipes. Volunteer numbers increase as the morning progresses, acquiring the eight to 10 folks it takes to make the day run smoothly. Each day of the week has a different cook, supervisor and crew to prepare the different, written recipes. Volunteers are welcome.

Prior to each meal, staff and a wonderful volunteer group called "Veggie Buddies" gathers to cook, dice, measure and bag meat and fresh vegetables for each kettle.
The kitchen shops at the Northern Indiana Food Bank, where most of the meat and desserts are purchased. Some canned goods come from there as well; the rest are ordered from Stanz food Service along with paper products. Breads and baked good are generously donated by Breadsmith and Panera. Fresh produce is given by B&B Organic Wholesalers.


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