Passing the Baton….. And GO!
Greetings Friends: My name is Shonna Bouteller and I have lived in Southern Oregon all of my life. I am married to my wonderful husband Brian, and we have four amazing, grown children and two precious grandchildren. As a family, we have prioritized serving our community and reaching others for Jesus. I firmly believe that the best way to show love to our neighbors is by offering an encouraging word, friendly smile, or a kind conversation.
The clients of the ROC Food Pantry rely on our services to help make ends meet. The ROC is a valuable resource to our community by providing healthy emergency food boxes to our most vulnerable citizens. ROC Volunteers show up consistently and fully embrace serving their neighbors. Whether it is through our home delivery service, our food distribution team, or our Backdoor Bargain volunteers, each of these individuals offer a warm and encouraging smile to all they meet. I am excited to lead this organization to fight hunger and feed hope.
A PB&J? WHY YES PLEASE!!!! A BIG THANK YOU to our friends at Kelly’s Automotive for hosting a peanut butter drive to help fight hunger in Josephine County. We are among the blessed recipients of this wonderful donation. As tireless servants of our community, Dave and Lisa Kelly along with their amazing crew, go out of their way to provide excellent automotive services at reasonable prices.
They have prioritized serving our community, especially our most vulnerable citizens. Please give them a high five and a big thank you for helping to support the ROC Food Pantry! If you or your business would like to partner with the ROC, we would love your help! Our greatest needs are canned goods, pasta, bread, rice, ramen, shelf stable products, and more. Please call 541-476-3344 if your business is willing to host a food drive.
Soup for the Soul Tickets on sale now!
Early bird pricing of $40 per person is available on our website. Tickets at the door will go up to $50. Tickets are limited so please don’t wait. Secure your spot today! We still have some tables available for sponsorship, but they are going fast. This is a long-awaited event that we are bringing back!
When small seeds are planted, big gardens can grow. Soup for the Soul was started years ago by a young lady named Alex Apland who had a huge heart for helping the needy. A simple idea of hand-crafted bowls and delicious soups made for a quaint, yet remarkable event used to serve the hungry in Josephine County. In its later stages, Alex graciously chose the local non-profit, the Reaching Our Community Food Pantry, as the sole beneficiary of the event. Alex is proof that great legacies are birthed out of a giving heart! Alex, you are a treasure to our community!
Ubuntu – In 2019, my husband Brian and our friend Sam took a trip to Uganda to explore a church plant for the Nazarene denomination. While they were there, they were introduced to the idea of Ubuntu, meaning humanity to others. The word “ubuntu” translates into “I am because we are.” This interconnected idea is alive and well at the ROC Food Pantry. In a time when humanity and compassion have been replaced by cancel culture, it is no wonder that our patrons are seeking a strong dose of kindness and love when they come through our lines.
Our patrons are fully aware of what hunger means and we choose to love them through their difficulties. Some may request prayer, some may request a hug, a smile, or even a “ROC Talk”. A ROC Talk is a conversation of encouragement and listening. If you know someone in need of a ROC Talk, please reach out to us. Our community will only be as strong as the love that we are willing to pour into it. We are happy to help!
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 ESV
