Do you know how many different items your local grocery store keeps in stock?  Typically it’s about 42,000 different items.  But that pales in comparison to a local store that my wife and I frequently visit.

The local grocery store near me stocks around 70,000 different items!  That’s a staggering variety, and an enormous example of the super-abundance of food in this country.  (It’s also why some people avoid that particular store because it’s almost TOO big!)

So how is it that in a country with so much abundance we still have hunger problems?  How is it that we have so many families and individuals living with food-insecurity?

The answers to those questions are complex and clouded.  But here’s one thing that’s clear.  We have an opportunity to do something about it.  You and I may not be able to fix the problem, but we can help alleviate food-insecurity for those right here in our own community.

There are thousands of people in our area who rely on the public schools to help feed their kids when the budget gets stretched too thin.  However, during the summer months, those kids aren’t in school, and so the family budgets get strained even more.  Often those families reach out to the local food banks during the summer.  And donations to these food banks typically drop off during the summer as people travel, etc.

So every June, Seneca Creek partners with local food banks and hosts a food drive.  Our goal this year is 400 bags of groceries, and as of earlier this week we’re already at 250 bags.  If you’d like to help us hit 400 by the end of June, be sure to drop off your groceries by this Sunday at our office at 13 Firstfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD.

Together we can help make a difference in the war on hunger right here in the land o’ plenty that we call home.

-Pastor Mark

P.S. If you didn’t get a chance to pick up a bag with the attached list, here are the items we’re trying to gather:

Canned fruit • Canned soup • Canned tuna • Canned vegetables • Cereal • Dry, plain pasta • Jelly • Macaroni and cheese boxes • Peanut butter • Rice • Spaghetti sauce

P.P.S. If you’re reading this and are not local to Montgomery County Maryland, or Seneca Creek, please check for a food bank in your community and ask how you can help them.