REFLECTIONS

Master's Manna President's Report
June 8, 2009

May has come and gone. We are into our second week of June and all I can think of is God is a mighty gardener...

Fields had to be cleared, stones removed, ground tilled, fertilized and prepared for planting. The right amount of sun, rain and wind is needed to nurture the seeds, plants, vines and seedlings placed lovingly in the garden. All plants will receive the same amount of tending and care. Some plants will wither and fade. Some will just suck nutrients from the soil and never produce fruit while some will flourish and be full to overflowing.

Master's Manna is the garden, full of rocks, untilled soil and in need of fertilizer. God is preparing, digging up, turning over and removing, all in preparation for the planting and the great harvest. What an exciting place to be!!

In May Master's Manna was represented at the Wallingford Education Appreciation Ceremony at Sheehan Hall; was one of the recipients of a cereal drive conducted by Yalesville United Methodist Church; was present at the Hartford Diocese Annual Appeal Banquet at the Aqua Turf; was visited by Sheehan High School teachers; was asked to become a member of the Wallingford Service Committee; attended a grant writing seminar sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven; was able to assist a young man to get to Long Island and we hit the road running in June.

Bill Brooks had valve repair surgery and we provided support and transportation for the family to Yale. Master's Manna is part of the Day of Caring Committee of United Way. Sue and Cheryl were recognized by the I.C.E.T. Program students, family and faculty at a brunch. Donald returned to roost and Marian Zambori introduced Steve to Master's Manna. The Executive Director out of New Haven and the Executive Director of Human Services of Farmimgton American Red Cross visited, discussed and will partner with Master's Manna in the coming months.

Seventy-four new families walked through our doors in April, 109 in May and we can only expect increase of blessing this month.

I am taken aback by the breadth and scope of Master's Manna. Never did I anticipate such community recognition and support. Never did I expect such outpouring of encouragement and "good job" from folks served by and assisting in carrying out the mission. This has been said many times before and I will stand by these words: This is not my food pantry. This belongs to God. All that is provided comes from Jehovah Jirah... from the smallest packet of seeds for the garden, to the 6100 square foot facility that houses His work. May we never lose sight that His mighty hand is at work... in our lives as well as those around us. Remember the garden... it reminds me of my heart some days... full of rocks and hard ground waiting for God to till the soil. Then there are days when the sun shines, the wind gently blows and I can feel the fruit growing fat on the vine. We are not responsible for the stirring of hearts to the Lord. God is. We are, however, to radiate God's love to those He sends to us. To love them just as Jesus loved us, dirty, broken and imperfect so that we could spend eternity with Him praising His name.

Rejoicing from the rutted path,
Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl A. Bedore, President

1. Last year 110,303 pounds of food was obtained through CT Food Bank. Retail value of this food was $352,969.60. (Feed America has determined one pound of food has a retail value of $3.20). Add approximately $150,000 retail from Thurston's and another $50,000 retail from our "neighbors" and Master's Manna distributed over HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FOOD during 2008! Plus clothing, plus furniture!

2. Served 42 families in 2006

3. Served 632 families in 2007

4. Served 1110 families in 2008

5. Distribution of 2100 - 2800 pounds of food per week

6. Diaper bank provided diapers for 153 children in 2008