"Come, you that are blessed by my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world;
for I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me…
(Matt. 25:34-35-NRSV)
Meatball Mania is the latest collaborative food ministry emerging out of Kenmore UMC. Now, if you’re
wondering what meatballs (and ravioli) have to do with missions and outreach, allow me to explain how this
ministry took shape almost overnight (realizing the Holy Spirit foresaw this opportunity long before we did) and
who it’s reaching with the love of Christ.
Rosina Italian Food Products, a local manufacturer headquartered with plants in Cheektowaga and West
Seneca, sought a charitable organization to repackage and distribute their monthly surplus inventory to those in
need. Freezer space, volunteers, and a distribution network were necessary pre-requisites; Kenmore UMC and
our connectional network of local churches were a perfect fit.
Meatball Mania is descriptive of the monthly gathering of volunteers in the Kenmore Community Food
Pantry. A network of twenty some people representing eight local UMCs (to date) come together to quickly
repackage 200 to 1300 lbs (not a typo!) of meatballs and/or pasta and return them to frozen storage. Food safety measures are
ensured to maintain the freshness and integrity of the product. After repackaging, volunteers return to their local
churches with already existing frozen inventory from our freezers (yes, we have four freezers filled with
meatballs/pasta in the building).
Meatball Mania is “meating” (pun intended) the food insecurity challenges of our neighborhoods. Since
August, 2400lbs of meatballs and pasta have been distributed across the Niagara Frontier and Cornerstone Districts
to supply our food pantries, free community meals, dementia respite care programs, and fund-raising dinners for
missions. Each month we will receive a scheduled shipment of additional products to repackage, place into cold
storage, and distribute.
Jesus commands us to love God, ourselves, and our neighbors. And addressing food insecurity is paramount
to caring for those in our communities. Meatball Mania is just what it sounds like: a fun, energetic, and
meaningful way to serve God and help our neighbors. Want to volunteer? See me (Pastor Becky), Pastor Nick,
or call the church office.
Caring for our neighbors together,
Pastor Becky
