Local church collects 100,000 pounds in food donations

Hazel Dell — For the past six years, Messiah Lutheran Church has been dedicated to collecting food every Sunday to distribute to local food pantries.

This month, they reached the milestone of having collected 100,000 pounds of food since beginning of what they call “Food on the Fourth.” While the church — which includes both Messiah Lutheran’s Hazel Dell and Ridgefield campuses, as well as their preschool — collects food throughout the year, every fourth Sunday of the month, the collection is placed around the altar as a visual offering.

The following Monday, the food is weighed and sorted by a group of volunteers. The average monthly donation is 1,338 pounds. Food is donated in the form of non-perishable items, as well as money specifically designated for food purchase.

The food is distributed to two Clark County food banks, Ridgefield Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and the Lewis River Mobile Food Bank in La Center. Both food banks are located in rural, under-served areas.

While Messiah Lutheran is pleased to have reached the 100,000-pound mark, the church has no intention of slowing down. In a press release about the milestone, the Revs. Peter and Kathy Braafladt said, “While 100,000 pounds collected is impressive, it is not the end of our efforts. With 50 tons “under our belts” we see no end in sight to the need for food, nor the generosity of our members.”