I started coming to the CCO Food Pantry when they were still at The Mattie Williams Neighborhood Center. I have been through trials and tribulations. During that time I have met wonderful, God loving blessed people along the way. Peggy and all the workers are a true blessing to me and my children’s lives. When life was very low, prayers always helped. There were many ways that the pantry helped and is still blessing our family today. I actually met ladies years ago that were handing out pamphlets for Safety Harbor Community Church program encouraging women. I started going there and that lead me to many wonderful, blessed people and I now call this Church my family. The Pantry and the wonderful volunteers that run it especially Peggy Smith have been a God send from Heaven!

What a Blessing, The CCO Food Pantry has been for me and my family! I am 65 years old and a great grandmother with a disability due to a very devastating car accident in 2014. To get produce and protein on a weekly bases to plan meals is a God send. These God like folks are angels. You feel love and cared for once you come through their doors. We are treated with respect. These folk’s love is love is love is love. I feel it! They seem proud to serve us. They are a wonderful example of God’s love of giving; not taking. Me as a Mom, Grandmother and Great Grandmother to have a full refrigerator and cabinets for me and my family and the help needed to get it in my car and free up what limited $’s I get is truly appreciated.

I am writing to express how much my family has been helped by Calvary Church Food Pantry. Iam on a fixed income (SSI) and don’t qualify for food stamps. My grandson visits me every week, he is a growing boy. It is nice to make him dinner and still be able to pay the water bill. At Calvary I receive fresh vegetables, meat and bread so I can stretch my food dollars. The volunteers always make me feel welcome and they are very helpful. Thank you all so very much for this. What a real blessing you are for our community.

How has the food bank helps me? My family has been through some tough times in the past few years. I never thought that I would need to go to a food bank. As it is, I have needed the help. I have constantly been surprised as to what I have found each week at the food bank. I have found people just like me who need the help. I have found volunteer workers that truly care for my well-being. I have found volunteers that have become my friends. I have found volunteer workers that are interested in my spiritual life. I have found volunteer workers that want to pray for me and my needs. Thank you for caring for me and my family.

I thank God for the many blessings he has given me. Unfortunately, with Joy also comes struggles. Not only financial but emotional as well. Never in my life did I imagine needing help from others. I have been working since I was 13. However, in an instant your life can be turned upside down as did mine. So here I am today on a fixed income and a client of your food pantry, which has been such a blessing to me. Without it, I would not have enough to last to month end. I must admit, the provision in nourishment is only one aspect of what the pantry provides to many in need. They also provide a personal touch that is given not only to myself but to every client who walks in the door. I remember when I first started going there. I was impressed that Peggy knew everyone by name, including me and I had only been there a couple of times. Since then she has been a friend to me, even if I only see her once a week, but there again we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. I would like to thank each and every volunteer for their kindness, time and prayer which I am invited to before food distribution each week. You have all given your time to help others and continue to pray with those who have needs and I am so grateful to you all.

My wife and I have both recently lost our jobs. We can’t get food stamps at this time and this food pantry is our only source of food now. We are very grateful for all you have done for us. I only wish to help you in return someday.