BELOW: Operation: Food is Love provides not only food, but toys and other items to help make holidays special during a difficult year.
COURTESY: Linda Davis
By Alison Sullivan
The First Church of Sterling has distributed over $50,000 worth of food to residents in need during the COVID-19 pandemic through Operation: Food is Love.
While the church has provided monthly free lunches to the community for years, COVID greatly exacerbated the need.
“We’ve learned that during this time of COVID, [Food is Love] doesn’t just help feed the bellies of our recipients who we have come to know and love so dearly, FIL has helped those of us, in a time where we feel so out of control, find a tangible way to help those in need,” said the organization’s leader, Jennifer Scalise-Mullett.
Food is Love has distributed over 18,000 meals, 1,300 full grocery bags, 3,000 Christmas toys, and so much more through community donations.
“We’ve stood out in the rain, snow, very hot, and very cold weather, because we are like the post office, and our recipients are counting on us,” said Scalise-Mullett.
The team at Food is Love has not only supplied meals and groceries to those in need, but has held special events for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.
According to Scalise-Mullett, she and her team have gotten to know the Food is Love recipients well over the past year.
“Our recipients have come to recognize us, even under our masks,” she said. “Not just because we have the beautiful pins with our faces on them, but because we are there every week. We smile with our eyes, and we serve our community, no questions asked. We even remember what kind of cereal they prefer and try to make sure we meet their needs when we select the grocery bags for their cars.”
The community has been so supportive of Operation: Food is Love, Scalise-Mullett said she has had to expand her food storage area. Additionally, recipients have offered to give back to the operation.
One recipient even donated her second United States stimulus check to Food is Love.
“She handed me an envelope and stated that since our program has given her family so much, this money that she normally wouldn’t have had was something she really wanted to give back to us,” said Scalise-Mullett.
Though Scalise-Mullett and her team have amassed more than 3,000 volunteer hours over the last year, she said the program could not be successful without the support of the community. “Without the continued support financially, or donations of non-perishable goods, produce, eggs, and so much volunteered time, our program wouldn’t be as successful as it is,” she said. “I’m privileged to continue to lead this program with the most amazing team.”