In 2006 we were averaging 175 families a week. In 2007, we are now close to helping 275 families each week.

We are so thankful for the enthusiastic help the pantry receives! Each week the pantry is staffed with 12-16 volunteers. Four churches take a certain week each month. The four churches are Christ Lutheran Church, Michigan Center, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Queen of the Miraculous Medal Roman Catholic Church, and St. James Lutheran Church all of Jackson. Immanuel Lutheran supplies 3 or 4 volunteers every week for continuity and we staff the pantry when a fifth Saturday occurs.

When we get shipments of food, many people from all of the above churches and the community help to unload trucks and stock the shelves. We receive a large shipment on the first and third Thursdays of every month at about 1:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come to church to work on straightening the pantry or portioning out bulk products into more manageable sizes.

As many people that we are able to help, we believe the emergency food needs are not yet being met in Jackson County. Alice Wiltse, many people from other church pantries and Janet Jaeger are part of a group End Hunger in Jackson that meets monthly to encourage existing pantries and enlist more churches and agencies to open a food pantry. We have received a grant from the Jackson County Community Foundation to help realize these goals financially.

Thank you to all who have been very generous in contributions of money and items for the pantry! We are able to purchase food from the Food Bank of South Central Michigan in Battle Creek. Our account number is J2270 if you would like to donate directly to the Food Bank.

Once a month a member of Immanuel's Prayer Ministry Team is available to pray with or for you.

Immanuel's Pantry in the News

Our own Alice Wiltse was named a Distinguished Citizen of the Year in the January 1, 2008 Jackson Citizen Patriot newspaper.

Please keep the pantry and the people who need the food in your prayers.

Plastic Bags