1409 Chapline Street Ph: 304-232-6511 Fax: 304-232-7552Wheeling, WV 26003 www.stjameswheeling.com 

January 10, 2014

Re: St. James Food Pantry

(EIN: 55-0361021)

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

In 1996, St. James Lutheran Church in downtown Wheeling formed a new project --- afood pantry --- where needy residents from Ohio, Marshall, and Belmont Counties could go oncea month to receive an allotment of groceries regardless of their religion, faith, or belief. Havingonly started with a few dozen families, the St. James Food Pantry has grown over the years towhere we gave out over 1,750 bags of groceries in 2013. Since 2008, we have increased ourdistribution by nearly 300 percent, and over 4,000 individuals received assistance from our FoodPantry in 2013.

Due in part to better outreach, as well as recent federal cuts to food stamp programs, wesaw a 25 percent increase in turnout during the last four months of 2013. As such, it is becomingmore difficult to raise enough funding to maintain our services to the greater Wheelingcommunity. So, for the first time, we are embarking on a public fundraising campaign in order tohelp sustain this very vital program for the next 18 months.

This is a four-part campaign, which reaches out to all of our friends and neighbors whoare able to help. In addition to obtaining grants from local foundations, we have begun an onlinefundraising campaign, as well as new and unique fundraisers within the St. James congregation.Perhaps our boldest endeavor is reaching out to you: over 80 civic, labor, religious, and socialorganizations in the Ohio Valley.

We realize that you undoubtedly have given and will continue to give to other veryworthwhile causes throughout the Ohio Valley, but we ask you to consider giving a donation of$100  to our Food Pantry. Your donation, if made prior to March 31, will be matched by 50 percent by the Thrivent Foundation through a challenge grant. Therefore, your $100 donationwill actually be $150 to us.

You may be asking what your $100 donation will do. Most importantly, your donationwill be used exclusively for the purchase and acquisition of food, both perishables and  non- perishables for the needy residents of our three local counties. Additionally, we will continuedistributing frozen meat items to our recipients. We will also strive to provide holiday mealitems to each family, like the 400+ chicken breasts we handed out for Thanksgiving andChristmas.

 

St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

 

  You may also be asking who your $100 will help. It will help families who need a littleextra assistance during a temporary layoff; it will help a young mother who has returned toschool so she can make a better life for her children; it will help people who simply need a singlemonth’s boost when they’re between jobs; it will help the many struggling senior citizens of theOhio Valley so that they will not have to choose between food or medicine; and most especially,it will help your own friends and neighbors like the thousands of people who have sought ourassistance over the years.

If you’d like to know more about the St. James Food Pantry, please feel free to contact usat the aforementioned number or email or you are always welcome to see our Food Pantry inaction on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 10 am to noon.

Enclosed with this letter is a brochure which outlines the various services we offer to thegood people of the Ohio Valley especially with our Food Pantry. If you decide that our cause isworthy of your generous gift, you may send a check in the envelope provided, or you can makeyour donation online with a credit card at www.stjameswheeling.com/foodpantry.  We aregrateful for your abounding generosity.

Sincerely,

ST. JAMES FOOD PANTRY

Maureen Morris-Wagner, Director

stjamesfoodpantry@stratuswave.net