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Here are items you could add to your shopping list for Little Free Pantry. Single serving or regular sized items; pop tops are preferred. Only unexpired, undamaged, and unopened containers please.
Little Free Pantry
Take what you need, give what you can.
· Shelf Stable Milk
· Dried Beans
· Fruit
· Rice
· Soup
· Canned meats like Tuna, Chicken, or Spam
· Ramen
· Oatmeal, Instant or Small Container
· Canned beans
· Finely Ground Corn Meal
A special thank you to our community partner, Manna Food Center, who donated the pantry.
We will collect items to benefit Gaithersburg Community Soup Kitchen, a.k.a. The Lord’s Table.
Click the Shopping Wish List to view and/or print.
Please bring items to the bins in the Gathering Space now through Easter Sunday.
In-Kind Collection Drive
(suitable for all ages)
SERVING OPPORTUNITIES
GPC always welcomes new participants for all of our projects, which are designed to take the vitality of our faith out into the community.
Come Serve With Us!
SETUP APARTMENTS FOR REFUGEES
Cook SOUPS for hungry neighbors
make casseroles for seniors
AND MORE
One ongoing project is KindSoups, where we come together in our own kitchens via Zoom to have fun and create an online community of folks providing healthful meals. We cook delicious, hearty soups and stews. Check here for the recipe to be made each week. We cook enough to feed our own families PLUS to pack up in containers to freeze and deliver to one of the local food assistance providers, so that those whom they serve can have some delicious and nutritious meals in their freezers. Easy-to-follow directions are provided.
Partnering with local nonprofit KindWorks to meet pressing community needs
KINDWORKS
GPC volunteers are always welcome to sign up for any KindWorks projects.
Hot dinners are provided Monday through Friday at Epworth United Methodist Church (the church just south of GPC on Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg). The GPC team serves on the third Tuesday of the month.
If you enjoy cooking for a crowd, contact Francie Whitlock (through the church office).
Preparing and serving hot dinners
We are happy to welcome new cooks. There is one teeny catch, however . . . the team leaves GPC for D.C. at 5:00 a.m. to serve a hot breakfast to hundreds of hungry souls.
For more information about how to join the GPC SOME Crew, contact Steve Olin (through the church office).
Serving up French toast and more
on the first Tuesday of every month
Gaithersburg HELP always needs volunteers to assist with telephone screening, providing transportation for clients, performing administrative tasks, or serving in the food pantry A list of current volunteer opportunities, along with a link to the volunteer application, can be found by clicking on the button below.
Lending support to the local food pantry in a variety of ways
Gaithersburg HELP has served the Gaithersburg community since 1968, providing short-term emergency assistance to more than 3,500 families in need each year.
HELP offers 3-day emergency food supplies based on family size; food for infants; financial help with prescriptions; transportation to medical appointments or social services appointments for the elderly or disabled; and other support and referrals. GPC provides financial support to Gaithersburg HELP as well as donations of food and supplies. Church members also assist in HELP’s mission by providing many volunteer hours each year.
Winter coat drive
school supplies drive
SUMMER READING BOOK DONATION
AND MORE
In September we organize a Back-to School Drive for backpacks and school supplies. Throughout the year, church members donate gently used clothes for the families (children and adults). As winter approaches, we have a warm coat drive for the students.
Each year the Giving Tree is in the church Gathering Place. It has ornaments (or ideas for gifts) for people from different walks of life. GPC members may take one that shows a specific item being requested. This year (2024) we have received requests for about 8 students.
We also have a group of GPC people who help the students make a holiday ornament on the night of Linkages to Learning’s party for the neediest families where each family member receives a holiday gift.
In past years, our Lenten Monetary donations have provided books for each of the students to take home for summer reading.
Supporting students and teachers in many ways
COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS
Watch this space and GPC emails for details about our next partnership opportunity!
For more information, contact Marilyn Morrison (through the church office).
GPC’s Prison Ministry is a group of volunteers affiliated with the St. James’ Prison Ministry—a consortium of local churches serving Montgomery County’s inmate population and their families at three correctional facilities: the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds, the Montgomery County Detention Center in Rockville, and the Pre-Release and Re-Entry Services Center (also in Rockville). Volunteers are involved in a wide variety of activities, including meeting and praying with inmates, collecting and distributing religious literature and greeting cards, mentoring and participating in job partnership programs, and providing other services as needed.
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, volunteers are not permitted to provide in-person services at the correctional facilities. We look forward to resuming our visits when we are allowed to do so.
To volunteer with the Prison Ministry, contact the church office.
Connecting with inmates
RTMC offers low-income homeowners home repairs at no cost to the recipient. A GPC team works with RTMC every year for one day in April. This program depends entirely on volunteers to repair and/or renovate the homes. Volunteers do not need to be GPC members; anyone older than 14 years of age with any skill level (but experts are also needed!) can participate. These projects have reduced the financial burden and improved the quality of life for more than 500 people across the county.
Working to make homes safer for low-income homeowners
For additional information, contact Yaw Obeng (through the church office).
Participate in this annual GPC Christmas tradition
Join us to supply breakfast, lunch and dinner! Volunteers purchase breakfast food and supplies, and prepare, deliver, and serve dinner for approximately 50 residents. This year, our annual service project will once again support the IWWC shelter at Crabbs Branch Way in Derwood.
by filling out the form at the sign up button below.
Providing a week of meals
at Christmastime
GLOBAL MISSIONS + PROJECTS
Rev. Norman Gordon
Germantown Global Connection
Montgomery County, Maryland
