churches

Papa’s World – “The Lords Food Pantry”!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Sherry and I volunteer through our church-

Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church – Shalotte, N.C.-

For the ministry of the South Brunswick Interchurch Council.

Our congregation is responsible for the second Saturday of every month-

To provide volunteers to dispense food to those in need.

For over FORTY years –

What is known as “THE LORDS FOOD PANTRY” –

Has been a community partner –

In addressing the issue of food insecurity in Brunswick County, NC.

To give you a scope in size-

Brunswick County, NC. –

Is roughly the size of the state of Rhode Island.

A population of 166,866!

Brunswick County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the USA.

Brunswick County has a poverty rate of 14%!

That is over 23,600 individuals.

The number of clients The Lords Food Pantry served in 2024 –

Was 32% higher than 2023 –

And in 2024, served over 23,000 individuals.

2025 most likely was even higher.

During the first six months of 2025 –

The Lord’s Food Pantry –

Provided life-sustaining food for three days –

To an average of 642 children, 987 adults, and 573 seniors per month!

NO ONE WAS TURNED AWAY!

The food given will feed them for three days of the week.

I usually check in the cars and get them parked.

What strikes me most are the Seniors.

Many can not get out and walk.

Yet are grateful for the assistance we give them.

In talking to them –

They have many aliments and some have breathing problems.

It breaks my heart to see them in such shape.

The Lord’s Food Pantry has outgrown the space they now have,

And the lease is up in a little over a year.

They have moved to several locations in the 40-plus years.

Outgrowing each other as the population of the poverty level increases.

Today, the need for support is more than ever.

A plan has been put forth –

Seeking donations and grants –

THE LORD’S FOOD PANTRY is seeking a long-term location –

One that will not require a year-long lease and provide the space needed to serve-

The Brunswick County poverty level.

If you choose, you can support with the following information.

The Lord’s Food Pantry

3610 Express Drive

Shallotte, NC 28470

Phone number- 910-477-3430

email: thelordsfoodpantry@gmail.com thelordsfoodpantry.org

Mailing address – P.O. Box- 1461

Shalotte, N.C. 28459

The new fundraising drive to find a permanent place to call the Brunswick Food Pantry –

Is – ” FEED MY SHEEP”!

A ministry of the South Brunswick Interchurch Council!

If you would like to learn more and or donate –

The address and email above are for you to consider.

The area churches are all involved, and more are added as time goes by.

Sherry and I welcome all the support for this endeavor.

Volunteering in our own senior years –

Reaching out to those in need through our own church –

Thanks for reading my blogs.

PAPA’S WORLD –

My site- livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

THE LORD’S FOOD PANTRY – FEED MY SHEEP!

Papa’s World – Hurricane Helena-Donations.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

We found a place to donate clothes –

Our neighbor would take them to a local church –

and then they would see that they got to the victims.

Our friends in HICKORY, N.C. continue to purchase and deliver to the airport supplies.

These will be flown by volunteers in Helicopters to areas hard to reach.

Roads into and out of areas were destroyed!

Day after day we continued to get donations and then make purchases!

We continued to reach out on Social Media for places to take donations!

A lot of places had exhausted their trucks and manpower.

The semi was loaded twice –

Other trailers and trucks more than six times!

Now we waited –

a second Hurricane was approaching Florida – A FIVE!

We shall see and continue –

We have faith in what we are doing!

They work tirelessly –

Separating and bagging donations.

This is but a glimpse into helping folks in distress from a distance.

Thanks for reading this blog!

PAPA’S WORLD: HURRICAN HELENA- DONATIONS!

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Random pictures in Ashville, N.C.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

On our exploration – a side trip to Siera Nevada Brewery – just outside Ashville!

We toured and had a tasting – went to the bar – and had a drink and a hot pretzel – great tour!

I found this to be funny – back in WNY – this is the beer I drank – PBR! LOL!

The Woolworth soda fountain where a protest – the first of its kind – occurred in the 60s for racial equality!

This still exists as it did then and we just happened upon it in a store that now is full of local vendors selling arts and crafts!

A visit to this famous Roman Catholic Church with the largest free-standing rotunda in the country!

This church was beautiful on the inside – well worth the time to tour it!

Our time here went fast but we walked several times the city while here.

We also took a bus tour and we drove to The Lexington Glassworks –

where we watched the handblown glass being made!

The process of making glass – was quite interesting as we watched and listened to them as they worked!

Displays of hand crafted glass wares you could purchase – we purchased a small aqua-blue pumpkin that matches some pieces we already own.

Cindy and I at the brewery – thanks for reading Papa’s World – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – RANDOM PICTURES OF OUR TRIP TO ASHVILLE, N.C.

Papas World – Good thoughts – give – pray – the World turns.

/ Tom / 2 Comments

In this time – Day#58 of Sheltering –

The World turns regardless –

Try not to read the bad news – or listen to the negative

Give of yourself – food to the hungry – clothes to the poor.

Even though you see and hear all things –

filter them out – for it is up to you and me

To make this a better place.

In our time of silence – in our time of isolation –

Think how the normal is now the abnormal

and how to bring the sanity back into our lives’

The World turns regardless –

Put your faith into whatever you believe in

and make it a better place.

Positive thoughts – positive well being – positive actions

The news is full of the negative – channel it out

there are good things out there

We are humanity –

Give of yourself – help less fortunate –

Those in need – those that are hungry

donate time – collect food – and help deliver it.

Laughter – zooming – tic – tock – video – messaging

stay in touch – drive by honk your horn

Sunday streamed service

walk – ride a bike – say hello from a distance

Faith – hope -charity – love and kindness.

Sheltering Day# 58

The little ones depend on us –

“Now I lay myself down to sleep “-

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

“Pray to the Lord my soul to keep”

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!

Papa & Bode

MY SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – after 10 plus years – final book club –

/ Tom / 2 Comments
Community Lutheran Church Sterling Va.

It has been a pleasure for her to lead –

For over ten years! Some 220 plus books!

Sherry has lead the book club all these years –

A lot of members have come and gone.

For one last time in person –

because of the pandemic – they met –

social distancing and outside –

to discuss the previous months book –

Little fires everywhere!

The members were spread out –

this is the last time she will lead in person.

After six months of ZOOM meetings

She contacted everyone to see if they were willing to meet this way!

Sixteen members showed up for the final book review.

Sherry has decided to continue as long as it is done on ZOOM.

Asking that if anyone would like to take it over

or know someone who would

she would step aside.

Many previous members have left the church and moved away

others have passed away – in her last years –

Sherry’s mother – Barb while she stayed with us

would come every month and read every book –

commenting when it came her turn.

Most of the time I am the only male present!

I must say – there are books I have read –

that most likely I would not of!

And I found some authors that I would search out their books.

We even read a nationally acclaimed book on the best seller list

and the author was a member of our church!

She attended the book review we did –

and she signed our book!

She has since moved to LA and is in the process of working

on the script for the movie!

The book club has been a way to connect with so many people!

Now – I sometimes take a break –

simply because I have my own books to read!

As we move on –

the ZOOM club will permit us to keep in touch

this part of our lives – the church and people

we shall always cherish.

And with the blogs on the church

in the years to come – we can look back and remember

bring memories to life!

Sherry leading book club one last time in person after 10 plus years!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!

MY SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – service outside after six months

/ Tom / Leave a comment

It has been a long six months –

our last service within the church proper

was in the middle of March.

The Pandemic – who would of known!

Pastor Annabele and the tech crew with the music director Jennifer

We have had the regular service every Sunday

by virtual feed.

Reduced from two services to one.

Community Lutheran Church Sterling Va.

We have been attending for over 15 years.

We found our home after searching for six plus years.

After transfering to NVA from WNY

We finally found what we had left behind.

We tried numerous churches

Being directed into spaces for social distancing

We became involved – watching the community grow

Now – we have but one outside service left to attend

and – we shall depart once again

where we will seek out another church

The parking lot – cars on the outside
The pastor and set up in the middle being filmed
All around – on the grass – on the hill – people attending
The trees providing shade with blue skies overhead.
People attending – estimated 70 to 90 with 108 on line

Six months is a long time for a pastor not having any contact in person

Six months and so many changes taking place

People moving out – leaving as we are doing

Six months of changing lives.

Never to see them again.

Our little family group – Marcus father and mother – Sherry – Tammy and the little ones

It will be sad when we leave

For pastor told us that the last service we are here

She and the congregation will be saying their goodbyes to us

Emotions for both Sherry and myself will be high

We can not hug – shake hands – only stand there with masks on

and once again leave – on our next journey.

The church and bible have taught us this

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

One more service outside – then saying goodbye – going to be a emotional day

MY SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papas World – SHELTERING Day# 39 – GOOD DEEDS!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

In these times – we have found that the smallest of deeds

bring the biggest rewards!

There is a lady – I call her the CAT LADY!

Simply because she recuses cats!

But – she is in need of newspapers –

so every two weeks we save up our Washington Post

and make the 8 mile drive to deliver them to her front door!

Texting her that they are on her door step!

In the past – we have delivered groceries for our food pantry

called LINK!

Now – we are reaching out in this time of need for donations

to this food pantry – which is aided by the churches in the area.

Usually once a month each congregation collects food

at their services and takes it over.

Since there are no physical services

ours are streamed on line –

The food is not being collected.

Last week we put out a appeal

and Sherry and I took four bags to the drop off site.

We are doing it again this week – people drop off at our front porch

and we in turn take it to the food pantry.

With the shut down – more families need this food!

Staying in touch with local friends

Taking a hot meal to a neighbor who has had a bone marrow transplant

exchanging puzzles with friends and neighbors

Exchanging a onion or face masks with friends

dropping face masks off at the church mail box

for the youth leaders aging grand parents

It all has to do with small deeds – kindness –

giving what you can and knowing how it makes you feel

in this time of SHELTERING!

And then at the end of the week –

Social hour ( hours) with friends who are apart by hundreds of miles

Seeing the smiles – sharing the laughter –

GOOD DEEDS come in small packages.

SHELTERING
Day# 39
We shall beat this

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!

MY SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog