Below is an article from the October 6, 2013, edition of the Grand Haven Tribune about the ministry of our church.
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Grand Haven is extending its food pantry hours, beginning Monday, Oct. 7. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Its normal hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We talked about this as a staff and agreed that all of us, combined with volunteer support from parishioners, are committed to making sure those who are on the edges do not wind up further injured by inaction in Washington,” said the church's rector, the Very Rev. Jared Cramer. “We are a church that has long had a passion for serving those in need, so we want to be sure that we act and provide food, toiletries, and infant supplies to struggling families that may wind up with even more problems during this shutdown.”
The extended hours will last for the duration of the government shutdown, Cramer said.
The church’s ongoing meal program, Loving Spoonfuls, provides a free hot meal to anyone who shows up on Sundays from 1-2 p.m. and Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. A bag of groceries is also distributed on Sundays.
In addition, for the duration of the federal shutdown, Loving Spoonfuls will give access to infant supplies from the food pantry to families in need.
Tri-cities residents who want to support this work are invited to make donations either to the “Loving Spoonfuls’ Fund” or the “Food Pantry Fund” at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Checks may be mailed to the Parish Office, 524 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417.