End of Month Meals begin Monday

Knoxville — New Covenant Church in Knoxville announces the start of End of Month Meals for 2008 and 2009 beginning Monday, Nov. 24.

End of Month meals is a ministry of New Covenant Church whose goal is to provide evening meals at no cost during the last full week of each winter month. Last year alone, End of Month meals served nearly 4,000 meals to needy and low income families in the Knoxville area.

Lillie Brandon, founder and executive director of End of Month Meals, says that this ministry is a unique opportunity to minister to those in need in the Knoxville area. It gives the members of New Covenant Church an opportunity to reach out into the community with a ministry that effects people in their day to day lives.

“Each year during the harsh Iowa winter season, many elderly and low income families are forced to make difficult decisions,” Brandon said, “They are forced to make a choice to buy food or buy medicine; to buy food or heat their homes.” Brandon went on to explain that the Knoxville Hospital stated that the hospital census increases each winter.

Brandon approached the church with the opportunity. Their support has been overwhelming. Jim Mead, Senior Pastor of the church, has been impressed with the willingness of the people of the church to invest their time into this ministry.

“Each night, more than 30 people give their time to prepare meals, to box them, to serve or to deliver the meals around the community. Last year we saw members go beyond the call of duty and give sacrificially to the ministry. One person donated a commercial oven to assist with the cooking. Another family donated a commercial refrigerator and another, a commercial freezer.”

The ministry started five years ago as a dream in the mind of one person in the church and it spread throughout the church.

“I was driving in my car and heard a news story about a church that had started a similar ministry,” Brandon remembers. “I thought about it, and realized that there is no reason why our church couldn’t do that, too.” She presented the idea to the pastor and the church body and the decision was made to step out by faith and launch this new ministry.

In the beginning, the ministry operated solely through the New Covenant Church facilities and membership, with recipients coming to the church to pick up their meals. As the ministry expanded the decision was made to begin delivering meals to residents. In 2005, Living Word Fellowship became a partner church, opening their Jenkins Center for walk in meals.

Nearly 150 meals are served each night through the various locations and the ministry continues to expand. Those interested in receiving meals are asked to call the church office, (641) 842-3176, before 3 p.m. each day and provide an address and the number of meals needed.

New Covenant Church is currently seeking partners to help with this vital ministry. Donations to help with End of Month meals may be sent to: New Covenant Church, 1510 West Madison, Knoxville, IA, 50138. All gifts are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged by letter.

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