Westminster Hunger Task Force Activities

​Westminster Presbyterian Church has been certified as an Hunger Action Congregation of the PC (U.S.A.), committed to (1) acknowledging and celebrating the faithful work of Presbyterians working around the country to alleviate hunger and end its causes, and (2) encouraging these ministries to be even more holistic and justice-oriented.

​The activities listed below were developed at the committee's February 23, 2021 meeting. 

Short-Term
​Hunger Solutions
  • Westminster partnered with Café Moxo to provide prepared 200 sack meals on March 16 for people to pick up at Café Moxo on Adams Street. Additionally, Westminster will fund 75 additional sack meals to the Winter Warming Center run by the Salvation Army. The cost will be $1,500 (meal cost is $5.75) and will be funded by The Betty Smith Mission Fund. This will be advertised on the FB page called Springfield Families Helping Families.
  • Westminster will sponsor a food box distribution with food coming from Central Illinois Food Bank. The program is called USDA Farmer to Family and the boxes come pre-packed and include milk, eggs, and other common items. The distribution will utilize Westminster’s parking lot and may see 200-400 cars depending on the day of the distribution. CIFB said our distribution day would take place in 3-6 weeks and about 10 volunteers are needed to help load crates and direct traffic.​
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  • Westminster will add packaged meal kits to our Little Pantry so recipients can prepare chicken casseroles or tuna casseroles at home. The Pantry shoppers will purchase enough ingredients to provide one meal kit per day. Additional meal kits will be prepared if church members provide additional ingredients. They will be packaged and labeled and placed on the Little Pantry supply table. 
  • Members of the committee have volunteered to be emergency backup delivery drivers once a month for a Compass for Kids meal program in which meals from restaurants are delivered to families in the Compass program.

Long-Term Hunger Research
Long range plans for fighting hunger include:
  • Committee members are researching hunger statistics in Springfield and developing a map in an effort to better understand the scope of the problem and its location within our city.
  • Committee members are developing an Adult Education Series for church members on hunger in October to coincide with the annual CROP Hunger Walk.
  • Committee members continue to follow the progress of the Illinois Commission to End Hunger.
  • Committee members attend the monthly Heartland Continuum of Care zoom meetings which includes a consortium of Social Service agencies, churches and civic leaders working to solve hunger and homelessness in Springfield
HUNGER MINISTRIES AT WESTMINSTER
Give-A-Meal-A-Month Members shop monthly for designated items for the Central IL Foodbank.
Heifer Project Sunday school offerings support Heifer International animals selected by the children.
Little Pantry (located at Graham Elementary School).  Small Whole-meal kits
Helping Hands Meal (prepared monthly on the Second Friday).
Compass for Kids Backpack Program   We will host their distribution site in May-June for summer food distribution. 
One Great Hour of Sharing Denominational Offering (1/3 of proceeds goes to Presbyterian Hunger Program)
Church World Service CROP Walk On World Communion Sunday, members walk to raise awareness and funds for world hunger.
St. John’s Breadline On St. Andrew’s Sunday, members purchase bread to support meals for the underserved.
Souper Bowl of Caring On Super Bowl Sunday, youth collect for area food pantries.
Meals-on-Wheels Members deliver meals for Senior Services of Central IL for two weeks each year.
Day Laborers Annually, members plant and harvest sweet corn for local food pantries.
Contact Ministries – Host Christmas Distribution which includes food.
 
One Time Community Service:
Café Moxo Distribution on March 16 (75 meals to Warming Center and 200 to community members)
Central Illinois Food Partnership with Potential Food Drive-through in May