Rev. Ron Burcham, Senior Pastor of Risen Savior Lutheran Church, announced that the congregation of Risen Savior invites all Sun Lakes residents to join in this year’s Spring Food Drive which benefits the Chandler Food Bank. He said, “We especially look forward to helping the food bank in the late spring, because it enables them to store food for the summer months, when donations are at their lowest.”
“We conduct all of our food drives to make a positive difference within our community,” said Pastor Burcham. “Knowing that there are some in the Chandler area that struggle to put food on the table, while our cupboards are full, is just unacceptable. We know that, as individuals, we can make a difference, but if we pool our resources and ask for God’s blessing, we can have a substantial impact,” he added.
Throughout the drive, the food will be displayed at the front of the sanctuary to enable everyone to see the results of working together to help others. “Every year, I look forward to arriving each Sunday morning during the Spring Food Drive, as the amount of food placed before God’s altar grows larger and larger. What a privilege to witness the generosity of God’s people and their desire to make a difference in someone else’s life,” Pastor Burcham commented.
Rev. Burcham added, “Risen Savior’s combined Spring Food Drives in 2014, 2015 and 2016 collected 8.4 tons of food. Also, we received almost $2,000 in checks from the church, our members and many friends in Sun Lakes. All of the proceeds were forwarded directly to the Chandler Christian Community Center, the parent of the Chandler Food Bank.”
How to Donate:
Although donations of all unopened food items will be gratefully accepted, the Food Bank’s greatest needs are for cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, canned fruit/vegetables/meat, canned and dry beans, rice, pasta, tomato sauce, mac and cheese, juice, boxed meals, cooking oil, salt, flour, sugar, canned soup and canned milk. To donate food, enter the Risen Savior parking lot from Alma School and drive straight forward until you see the food collection boxes on the patio directly ahead (west). The collection boxes are emptied daily.
Pastor Burcham closed by saying, “I wish to relay the heart-felt thanks of Risen Savior’s congregation and staff to the countless Sun Lakes residents who join us in contributing to the success of Risen Savior’s Annual Food Drives.”
Note: Pastor Burcham’s column appears monthly in the Religion Section of the Splash. His weekly sermons can be viewed online at www.rslcs.org.