Food & Hunger Ministries Churches United Pantry (CUP) Downtown Lima churches have joined together to make sure that people in our area will not go hungry.  These churches provide financial support and volunteers to work the 'store'.  Food is donated or puchased from the West Ohio Food bank, and then distributed to local residents according to the number of people at each residence.  CUP is an amazing ministry that serves hundreds of people each month on a shoestring budget.  CUP calendar here .   129 S. Pierce St., Lima, Ohio  45801   419-221-3243 Our Daily Bread This well known and well used soup kitchen provides meals each morning for hungry locals.  The food is good and the conversations are interesting, but most importantly people are receiving the gifts of God.  St. Luke's provides workers on the fourth Friday of each month.  New volunteers are always welcome!   125 S. Central St., Lima, Ohio  45801   419-224-2086   www.odbread.org Produce Give-Away The annual fall produce give-away began in 2008, when there was so much produce at the local food bank that it was going to waste.  With some quick organization, members of St. Luke's came together to distribute this extra bit of God's provision.  It was such a success that we continued in 2009 and expect to continue in the early fall of 2010.  Food is bagged and pallets are stacked on Wednesdays, produce is given away on Thursday mornings.  Help is appreciated on both days!     For more information, contact Karen Howell. ELCA World Hunger Appeal Daily offerings of spare change are collected in homes during lent and given to the World Hunger Appeal at the end of the season.  Each year hundreds of dollars in loose change is given away to help fight hunger around the world.  Find out more about the appeal here. Souper Bowl of Caring On Super Bowl Sunday the youth of St. Luke's take a special offering to support the local food bank and food pantries.  More information about this national ministry is here . Crop Walk The Allen County Crop Walk is held every fall to raise awareness of hunger issues in our community. CropWalk

Why caring is so important Jesus says, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40) Giving food to people is a simple way of remembering that Jesus has called us to care for those in need, and at the same time sharing the joy we have in Christ with others. In short, it is a way of showing that our faith makes a difference in how we live our lives.  Jesus Christ gives us life, and so we live in him and share his life with others.