To the Editor:

In late October, on the brink of the government shutdown, I saw a post on social media that piqued my interest. A woman in the Midwest posted about the “shelf-stable meals in a bag” that she was making, both for herself and for those who might be facing food insecurity.

Intrigued, I did some Google searching and found that these bags were filled with nonperishable ingredients, and a recipe for a complete meal.  

Subsequently, on behalf of the First Reformed Church of Berne, I put my own post on social media, requesting specific food items needed to assemble meal bags, that we would deliver to local food pantries.  Each kit, I explained, would be in a gallon zip-lock bag and would include all of the needed ingredients for a meal, along with a recipe card.  

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect such an outpouring of support! In addition to bins and bins of food, over $1,000 was donated, and we were able to distribute over 250 meal bags to the Rock Road Food Pantry, Gathering Hope Food Pantry, and the Hilltown Community Resource Center. On behalf of the First Reformed Church of Berne, thank you!

Jodi Ebel

First Reformed Church of Berne