Warm hearts make warm meals this holiday season

Lansing, Mich. – The holidays are here, and tough times mean it is time to think about people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

Local Lansing community organizations need volunteers and donations to help keep the less fortunate from going hungry this holiday season.  The Epicenter of Worship church and the Mobile Food Pantry are just two of many efforts in the Lansing area that are trying to make this holiday season one that everyone can enjoy.

Epicenter of Worship “Lunch on the River”

The Epicenter of Worship Church hosts “Lunch on the River” every Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. for food and fellowship.  According to Pastor Sean Holland, this event is for everyone, and the church needs people to donate or volunteer and serve food to those who need it.  Holland wants to send a message out to the public that he cannot do it alone, and he said he needs your help.

“ I want to encourage our youth to come out and give back to the community,” Holland said. “If a church is not changing its community…it is not a church.”

The Mobile Food Pantry Struggle

Another initiative started in 2007, the Mobile Food Pantry, also is concerned about the amount of food that they are able to give.  Dr. Joan Jackson Johnson said that it takes a village to take care of each other in these tight economic times and the Mobile Food Pantry needs everyone’s support to survive.

“It saddens me that we have food insecurity issues in our community,” Johnson said.  “Even with kids receiving free meals, kids are still missing 8.2 meals a week.”