Each month, Christ’s Church of the Valley in San Dimas runs and hosts a food drive called Bumper Bag. On the last weekend of the month, members of the church can bring food items to church with them and place their bags behind their car bumper before service. These items get picked up and brought to our Bumper Bag Market located on campus. Families in need can shop for free groceries and a free BBQ is provided as well.
The goal of the church is to help anyone in need throughout the San Gabriel Valley. They place no restrictions on who is allowed to get food and for long verses most pantries that will area restrict and only allow families to get items six times a year. Typically there is a lot of paperwork to fill out and standing in long lines just to get a box of pre-boxed items, whereas Bumper Bag allows individuals and families to fill out a registration card once. After they are recognized with a CCV Identification card, they can pick out their own groceries in farmer’s market fashion. On top of that, they can enjoy a free BBQ meal, made my professional chefs and receive prayer from a lay of volunteers from their prayer booth, if needed. The prayer team is bilingual and follows up with those who come forward.
The church desires to focus on the dignity of the patrol be allowing them into a place that truly treats them like a family, not some number. The program started two years ago as a very small opportunity for those in need but did not have any of the extra elements they currently have. In January, the church sought to promote healthy diets so it added a “fresh item of the month”, where patron get something fresh each month. This Sunday’s event, will feature fresh vegetables. They feed about 100 families (400 people)
If you or someone you know could benefit from the Bumper Bag Market, please visit us the last Sunday of the month between 11-2pm at the house parking lot behind the church. They’d love to see you there! Come this Sunday, July 31st, 2011 between 11-2pm to check it out.
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