We Expand Pantry Hours Wednesday; Meet on Friday

The Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative is storming through July getting things done. July 9 – 15 will be a big week for us. On Saturday, July 9, we set up shelves purchased with a grant from the Northern Berkshire United Way. Also on Saturday, we started our regular cleaning group — every two or three weeks — for the Friendship Center.

Thanks to Enid, Joan, and Terry and her daughter for help with the cleaning. And thanks to Mark L., Stuart, and Rich for help with the shelves. I miscalculated on the two bigger shelving units and hope to soon buy one more shelf for each so that each willl have five shelves. (More photos below underneath the meeting agenda).

Another thing making this week important is that we will be expanding our hours at the food pantry on Wednesday, July 13, to include a 4 to 7 p.m. session. This to go with the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. session that we have been doing now for 20 weeks.

I post the total number of people we serve every Wednesday and will continue to do so. Those of you on Facebook can follow that at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Northern-Berkshire-Interfaith-Action-Initiative-Friendship-Center/100392236707183?ref=ts

On Friday, July 15, we will hold our next Interfaith Action Initiative meeting. See the agenda below. I look forward to disucssion with friends from local colleges who want to talk and plan with us on introducing students to our efforts. Their are several other interesting things on the agenda, also.

Friday’s agenda and then more photos of our new shelves follow.

God Bless,

Mark

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Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative

Meeting: July 15, 2011, 10 a.m. to Noon

First Baptist Church of North Adams

1). Welcome/introductions.

2). Moment of silent prayer.

3). Faith sharing.

4). Announcements.

5). Discussion of cooperation with our local colleges. Spencer Moser from MCLA. Lauren Shuffleton from Williams.

6). Purchase of shelves with grant money. What to do with money left over?

7). First week of opening pantry up again in the evening, impressions.

8). Set next planning meeting. (Extended hours grew out of the first planning meeting.)

9). Upcoming food pantry training.

10). Status of voucher system expansion.

11). Rescheduling of housing meeting.

12). Other business.

13). Next meeting Friday, August 19.

14). Adjourn.

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