The Murray Hills Christian Church congregation believes in continuing the mission Jesus began by taking His teachings into our local community. One example of this work is the Washington County Food Pantry, which was established at MHCC September, 2005. Our pantry works closely with the Oregon Food Bank to acquire food and with Care to Share to distribute food to people in our community who are in need. Families referred by Care to Share can receive one week of nutritious food on a monthly basis. The pantry is staffed entirely by volunteers from the MHCC congregation. Funding is provided by our congregation, over and above General Fund giving. Murray Hills believes that by establishing this Pantry we are helping to “feed Jesus’ sheep”, and we are confident that as we feed the least of those who come to us in need, we are also feeding Him.

It’s hard to believe, it has now been a full year since our food pantry began operation. It’s been a year filled with learning, service, and a growing commitment that this outreach is the right thing for us to do. Currently we are giving away food to 10 families each Saturday morning. Fifty-five members of our congregation are serving as volunteers. In our first year we have served approximately 300 families. On September 10th, in both worship services, we celebrated our pantry’s birthday. We asked the congregation to participate in the celebration by bringing milk eggs, vegetable oil, sugar, coffee, catsup, mayonnaise, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, paper towels, dish soap, and laundry soap, that we could give away. By popular request below is Sue Webber’s stewardship meditation in which she outlines the 10 most important things that the food pantry project has taught us in its first year.

• MHCC is filled with incredibly dedicated and hard working individuals who care deeply about the hungry in our community. We currently have 55 people involved in this ministry in various capacities.


• Many new relationships have been formed within the congregation while working together on this project.


• Lives have been changed!


• Many more churches and social service agencies in Beaverton are aware of this church and our many outreach ministries because of the collaboration with Care to Share and the Oregon Food Bank.


• Several of the families we have served in the pantry are without transportation. They have arrived by taxi, bus, and on foot.


• Visitors come into our church building who might not usually feel comfortable in a house of worship. It can be a first step! We have had a few visitors come because of the pantry.


• Hunger comes in all sizes, shapes, colors, and ages. We have served families from one to sixteen members. More than fifty per cent of our recipients are children. We serve many of the "working poor", elderly, new immigrants, and the mentally and physically disabled.


• Casey Leip has educated his fourth grade class at his elementary school this past year about feeding the hungry through his weekly service of delivering the food to the pantry from the food bank. He and his Dad Tom are often accompanied by Casey's school classmates.


• Dorie Horne - Executive Director of Care to Share wrote a recommendation letter for the pantry. In it she refers to the Saturday volunteers.... "These caring individuals by their kindness have made their pantry the one most requested by our clients."


• Jesus was right! We get so much more in return than what we give when we freely offer ourselves to the service to others.

A HUGE thanks to all those who have contributed in any way to the success of this past year!