Hard winter months combined with so many people unemployed or businesses shut down equals a busy start for 2021. In the month of January alone we saw 92 new families who have never used our services. We have heard over and over from folks who say, “I feel embarrassed to have to come to you for food because I’ve never been unable to afford to buy groceries before. I’m usually the kind of person who donates to the ROC, but with the economy locked down I have way less income than normal and it has gone on so long that all my reserves are nearly gone. I’m just trying to keep my head above water and feed my family.” Our staff and volunteers work hard to be encouraging and let them know that we realize this and are all in it together.
We know that these are hard times and we will walk through them stronger when we walk together. In January, our total number of individuals served was 4,350 with 1,357 of them being children. Clearly the need is there and we thank all of our donors who make it possible for us to accomplish this task. Without your support the struggle for our neighbors would be far greater. May God bless you!
“the holy art of “giving for Jesus’ sake” ought to be much more strongly developed among us Christians. Never forget that all state relief for the poor is a blot on the honor of your savior. The fact that the government needs a safety net to catch those who would slip between the cracks of our economic system is evidence that I have failed to do God’s work. The government cannot take the place of Christian charity. A loving embrace isn’t given with food stamps. The care of a community isn’t provided with government housing. The face of our Creator can’t be seen on a welfare voucher. What the poor need is not another government program; what they need is for Christians like me to honor our savior.”
― Abraham Kuyper, The Problem of Poverty
Luke 8:22-25
Brian Bouteller – Executive Director