What do you when you don't know where your next meal is coming from? An ever-increasing number of people in our community struggling to provide the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter for their families are turning to the Venice Faith Community for assistance.
Since April of 2009 the Venice Interfaith Outreach program has been providing weekly dinners for the homeless and those in need. Along with canned goods, fruit, clothing and toiletries over 7,500 people have been served tasty and nutritious meals from salad to desert.
Participating and providing helping hands are the Venice United Church of Christ, St Mark's Episcopal Church, Grace United and just recently Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Meals at the United Church of Christ have been prepared and served by volunteers from the Jewish Congregation of Venice.
From nine to noon Emanuel Lutheran Church offers a place for the homeless to have a cup of coffee and read a newspaper, magazine and relax while the Center of Hope provides a network of social services including a mailing address, help in finding a job, a medical clinic, assistance in connecting with other caring programs and on the cold winter nights a shelter run by the Red Cross.
But providing a helping hand doesn't stop there. The all-important "Back Pack Program' provides food for school children who are receiving free or partially funded lunches to take home to their families over the weekend. Four churches are supporting this program reaching out to approximately 250 elementary school
children. With the poverty level close to 60% in one school alone more funds are needed.
Find out how you and your faith group can help. Call Carol Prichard at 941-493-2597.