Matthew 25 Ministry
CURRENT AND UPCOMING MATTHEW25 MINISTRY PROJECTS
Winter Storm Update
“Paying it forward’ surfaced in Matthew 25 this week and exemplifies true kindness when genuinely practiced. On Friday, Seeds of Hope sent an SOS just an hour before opening because most market deliveries were delayed by an approaching storm. The pantry was nearly empty. Too often, we’re preoccupied with our own storms, forgetting how it affects those less fortunate. We hurried out to buy bread—white and whole wheat—difficult to find due to dwindling supplies — and picked up eggs. At Seeds of Hope, we met a volunteer who was also a recipient of our Angel Tree. She lives about 40 minutes away and volunteers all her food to those in need. She tearfully shared how our donations helped her during a tough year, especially a Christmas gift from the church for her daughter. She declared she’ll pass on that generosity to others once she’s back on her feet. Though we don’t often see it, her act of volunteering already paid forward the kindness. It’s touching to witness such goodness and acts of kindness, reinforcing that we are truly impact makers.
Please continue making donations through Vanco or by check. Your donations have a greater impact than you might realize. We rely on them to keep serving our communities.
We will work on a community service project in February, and in a few weeks, we will gather information about our Lenten Meat Drive.
Stay warm and safe as we all work to recover from this extremely cold winter.
Food for thought: “Kindness is like snow- it beautifies everything it covers.” ~ Kahlil Gibran
Angel Tree Update
We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas as we celebrated the nativity with family and friends. It’s a memory maker for so many of us. We wish you peace, love, and good health in the New Year.
November and December are special months for Matthew 25, and this year they feel even more vibrant. We sincerely thank everyone for supporting the Turkey Drive and Angel Tree. Despite a snowy storm in mid-December, we successfully delivered and received gifts for our less fortunate friends. Thanks to great communication and teamwork, we met our Christmas needs with warmth. The generosity during this joyful season was inspiring—we distributed over 150 presents! Lisa and I are filled with love and happiness, inspired by our parishioners and recipients. This year was especially meaningful with heartfelt photos and cards from parents. One mother, urgently seeking a fireplace blanket, shared a picture—a simple wish to keep her family warm. Annunciation’s Matthew 25 team fulfilled the Christmas list and delivered gifts by 12/24. Thanks to Gina for organizing gifts at her school, and we also donated over 40 toys to Mattie Dixon, brightening many children’s holidays. Parents joyfully chose toys for their kids, which was heartwarming. Our parish gathered a wonderful variety of toys. Our giving spirit reflects the Magi’s journey—bringing gifts to honor Christ. We are blessed to serve and make a difference. Thank you all!
In mid-December, we unexpectedly delivered $1500 worth of supplies to Seeds of Hope, including stewing beef, chickens, butter, eggs, and cheese for our friends there. We sincerely thank our parish for enabling these donations. This overflow of support from Thanksgiving touches us deeply, and moments like these are truly humbling for our ministry.
May your generosity continue into the New Year.
Food for thought: “ Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience, worst days give you lessons, and best days give you memories.” ~ unknown
Turkey Drive Update
Thanks to our parish, family, friends, and neighbors, we delivered about 2500 pounds of turkey, 35 chickens, 525 pounds of potatoes, 179 pounds of onions, and 105 pounds of carrots. We also received eggs, butter, ham, and 53 baked items collected by GOYAN'S. It’s heartwarming to see our youth and parish come together to put God’s teachings into action. We sincerely appreciate all your donations. We especially want to thank Maria Mountis, Despina Thomas, Angie Makris McCulloch, and Sofia Bougoukas for their efforts in helping us gather frozen turkeys and baked goods. Giant donated 20 turkeys to the Somerton Interfaith Food Pantry. This year, we also added Mattie Dixon in Ambler to our route, bringing mashed potatoes and gravy.
Our Turkey Drive is like a great recipe, with high-quality ingredients that ensure its success. We thank you for being part of this parish service project. The overflow funds from the Turkey Drive will allow us to make a larger Christmas food donation. Your support and generosity are the heart of this ministry.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “Giving is not just about donating. It’s about making a difference.” —Kathy Calvin.
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It's not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, that truly measures our Thanksgiving.
Last week, we made two deliveries to Seeds of Hope and Somerton Interfaith. Both pantries appreciated the donations of vegetables, cheese, and soups, among other items.
It’s that time of year to reflect on our blessings. Soon, our tables will be filled with turkey, fixings, and pies, but many in our community face food insecurity and struggle to put meals on the table this November.
We are pleased to promote our Annual Turkey Drive! We will order and deliver turkeys to Seeds of Hope Food Pantry, Focus of North America (Philly), and Somerton Interfaith Food Bank. Please fill out the form below and mail it in. The cost is $35 per turkey. Donations can be made through Vanco by typing “Turkey Drive” under Matthew 25 or by check payable to Annunciation Church with “M25 Turkey Drive” in the memo. Frozen turkey donations are accepted after November 1st; place them in the church freezer. We cannot accept free turkey vouchers. Contact us at oceancitymom1@gmail.com for questions or to bring your own turkey.
We are teaming up with the Annunciation GOYAns for our Turkey Drive this year. Teens will collect dessert ingredients like flour, sugar, baking mixes, chocolate chips, pie crusts, fruit, and pumpkin fillings for donations to Seeds of Hope and Somerton food pantries. These help families bake holiday favorites. Please support our GOYAns.
Thank you so much for supporting us and being a part of feeding families this Thanksgiving.
Click here for a printable Turkey Drive Form >
MISSION
Our mission is to share our love of Christ with needy neighbors. We aim to serve and live out our faith by raising parish awareness of food insecurities in our community.
PARTICIPATION
Check our Weekly Bulletin and Community Calendar for current and upcoming projects.
CONTACTS
Sophia Penning, sophiagreekgirl@gmail.com
Lisa Trivelis, oceancitymom1@gmail.com