Submitted by Reed Markham, Assistant Communication Director, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Well of Hope is a local Food Bank and Thrift Store in the Clermont area that has a mission to “Assist individuals and families toward their goals and life achievements by helping them with quality and healthier food, clothing, furniture, job training, employment opportunities, and educational classes focusing on family health and community growth.”
Over the last several months The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has established a wonderful working relationship with Well of Hope through the JustServe App. JustServe is a community service initiative by The Church of Jesus Christ to help people follow the Savior’s admonition to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:39) by providing a platform where the entire community can find voluntary opportunities to assist those in need and enhance the quality of life in the community. Volunteer members of the Orlando Florida West Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ have been volunteering time to help at Well of Hope Food Bank and Thrift Store and saw a greater need. The Church extended a humanitarian grant to Well of Hope which included a large some of food deliveries from their Bishops’ Storehouse. These food deliveries will expand over the year and will be available to Well of Hope when needed.
Pastor Michael Hopewell and his wife Christine of New Water Church in Davenport serve as ministers at Well of Hope Food Bank. They were invited to take a tour of the Bishops’ Storehouse and pick up their first delivery. They started off the tour with a morning prayer and devotional about the Atonement of Christ followed by a tour of the facility.
The Church’s mission of the Bishops’ Storehouse is “to help fulfill the Savior’s charge to care for His children, and to help those in need become self-reliant, while keeping them on their feet.” The Storehouse is run by volunteer service missionaries for the Church as well as local member volunteers.
Following the morning devotional and tour, Elder Portlock, service missionary and manager of the Storehouse and Pastor Michael loaded up their first order of food which consisted of several pallets of food totaling 4,000 pounds. Items included, rice, pinto beans, black beans, white beans, macaroni & cheese, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, beef stew, pork and beans, chili, peaches, tuna fish, peanut butter, and strawberry & raspberry jam. Other items available at the Storehouse include frozen meats, dairy and fresh produce.
