​How can I help at

SHEPHERD'S OFFFICE MINISTRIES? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREPARE A MEAL TO BE DROPPED OFF

We serve about 250 meals per day! The number of daily meals is weather dependent. Although you are welcome to cook-up & bring whatever you want, we do try to have specific menu days so that all of the guests receive the same meal. For example, if we are serving Chicken & Rice on a particular day, we would have 5 to 6 ‘chefs’ prepare that meal. Shepherd’s Office Ministries can supply food to be cooked, so come ‘shop’ from our freezers & pantry!

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PURCHASE ITEMS  FOR OTHER VOLUNTEERS TO COOK

For example, if the menu for a week includes meals such as chicken with rice, pasta salad, goulash, tuna sandwiches, then we will need ingredients such as bread, pasta, cucumbers, celery, onions, rice, etc. If you would prefer not to cook, but would like to help by purchasing the items needed for the meal prep, please either drop off the items or arrange for an online order to be delivered to the Shepherd’s Office. You may also donate gift cards for WALMART or other grocery stores, or make a financial contribution that can then be used to purchase food. Monetary donations can be made in cash or check, or by using Cash App to: $theshepherdsoffice.

 

SERVE MEALS

When meals arrive each day, we must make sure that cold foods are kept cold prior to being served, & we also need to heat up hot food in the microwave to ensure the proper temperature before scooping into the individual carry-out foam containers. We use hinged foam containers (like in restaurants) & we also have clear plastic bowls with tight fitting lids. Volunteers who would like to help serve meals must wear gloves provided by the Shepherd’s Office. Food is scooped into the containers then placed in stacking trays/coolers. We need a minimum of 2 volunteers on the porch to hand out meals; meals come with a 'brown bag' & a water bottle & are shared out during the serving hours.

 

ORGANIZE THE PANTRY ROOM

Food donations come in every day; expiration dates must be checked to decide where items should be placed. If the item is within indicated date, it can be shelved in the pantry area.  Shelving is labeled & items are grouped by categories. If an item is past due but the date is within 6 months, it is placed on the porch table where people in the community can come & take items at any time. Anything outside those dates is discarded.

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PREPARE FAMILY FOOD BOXES

Volunteers prepare Family Food Boxes with shelf stable provisions such as canned veggies, soups, pasta & sauce, mac ‘n cheese, rice, beans, stew, chili, jelly, peanut butter, tuna, cereal, oatmeal, shelf stable milk, etc. These filled boxes & a protein (such as frozen chicken) are then made available to families in need.

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'BROWN BAGS' - FILL FOR FAMILIES -

Each meal that is served comes with a brown bag which is full of snacks, utensils, napkins & a Bible Tract. Each day, about

250 brown bags must be assembled prior to the service time of the meal. We depend on donations of the these items, & need volunteers to fill each bag, fold it closed, & place it in large plastic tubs to then be given out with each dinner.

 

ORGANIZE & SANITIZE

This is one of the most needed on-going tasks... With the numbers of donations coming in so frequently, some items may

not get unpacked; this is challenging & decreases the efficiency of the function of the Pantry Room. Also, ALL surfaces, especially door knobs, refrigerator handles & common surfaces, etc. must be cleaned daily with disinfectant wipes. Windows on the exit doors need to be kept clean which is welcoming to guests & volunteers. These on-going ‘light cleaning’ tasks need to be done repeatedly throughout the week.​

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STOCK INFORMATION PAMPHLETS & CABINETS

We have both indoor & outdoor pamphlet holders filled with pamphlets & trifolds from the DE FOOD BANK, DART Bus Schedules, Sussex Pregnancy Care Center, Domestic Violence & other Social Services Agencies. We need to keep it organized & filled!

There are 2 filing cabinets in the hallway near the door. The drawers are labeled; the bottom drawers (1 for men, one for women) have basic provisions for the most commonly requested items so they can be easily accessed. (socks, wet wipes, etc.)

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HYGIENE KITS

The Shepherd’s Office assembles & hands out free hygiene kits to anyone who requests them. We use gallon sized Ziploc bags which have travel/hotel size shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, toothbrush, comb, tissues, razor, shaving cream, washcloth, & other hygiene items that have been donated. We receive many items which must be sorted then bagged, so ‘many hands make light work’. 

 

PRAYER TEAM

We recently created a prayer wall that features a beautiful shadow box with a cross and rose petals made by one of our volunteers. A cork board labeled ‘The Wailing Wall’ is under it where we place prayer requests. We want to invite people to share their needs with volunteers who will listen & pray with you ~

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We are so grateful that you would like to help Shepherd's Office Ministries.

We truly look forward to working with you!