Connecting Columbia Union Seventh-day Adventists

Community residents line up for food at the Mizpah church during The Coalition Against Hunger’s first VIP pantry tour and Hope for Philly Network gathering.

Philadelphia Churches Meet Post-Pandemic Food Needs

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

When community residents learned they would no longer receive the extra food assistance they received during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mizpah and New Life churches in Philadelphia stepped in to fill the gap.

The cut affected many families, and with increasing prices, feared how they would provide food for their loved ones. Mizpah and Life partnered with agencies to offer services to this community.

Mizpah hosted The Coalition Against Hunger’s first VIP pantry tour, in which organizers showcased how to resource and distribute food, clothing, house goods and provide other community needs. Howard Duncan, Mizpah’s pastor, delivered an inspirational message, and Vernessa Wilson, Mizpah’s Community Services leader, shared how still able to keep their pantry stocked and vibrant even after the pandemic.

“God spoke to my heart, and I said, ‘If You want us to do this, You have to protect the team,’” says Wilson. God answered her prayer, and none of her team contracted COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic and still today. They continue to serve food twice a week and look forward to providing even more resources in the future.

Mizpah is still able to keep their pantry stocked and vibrant even after the pandemic.

“God spoke to my heart, and I said, ‘If You want us to do this, You have to protect the team,’” says Wilson. God answered her prayer, and none of her team contracted COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic and still today. They continue to serve food twice a week and look forward to providing even more resources in the future.

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