Contacts

Interim Director
Chris Fatzinger
cfatzinger@chris-cooks.com

Delivery Information
Marsha Staub
marsha.staub@comcast.net
Delivery Sign Up
New Hanover Meal Delivery Sign Up

Monetary Support
New Hanover Giving Page

Served over 250,000 MEALS since inception

History:  The New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church (NHELC) began providing meals to our church shut-ins and other congregation members who needed food due to a loss of job, a recent hospital stay, long-term illness, disability, etc.  When Covid impacted our region, we quickly determined we would expand our mission and share our food resources with our neighbors.  We deliver meals to Montgomery, Berks and Chester Counties.

Our Loaves & Fishes Ministry produces and distributes “Heat and Serve” meals to anyone who cannot provide for themselves.  These meals are prepared and cooked in our church’s state inspected kitchen by our own Chef Chris who happens to be one of our parishioners.  We procure all the ingredients and packaging materials to create and distribute these meals.  Chef Chris oversees meal prep and cooking and our volunteers support meal packaging, logistics and distribution.

What makes us different is that we do not require any formal registration or make you deal with red tape.  All you need to do is contact our church (see box above) and meals will be provided generally with 72 hours.  To date, we’ve delivered our meals with no expectation of being reimbursed, but many with the financial means, have gladly donated to our mission to help defray our food costs for those who are less privileged.

It only costs $2.00 to produce and distribute a meal (includes all expenses) and is 100% funded by donations from neighbors like you, charities, local companies and by County, State and Federal Grants.  We have the ability to produce and deliver 1,000 meals per week, feeding 142 people every day!

How you can help:

Volunteer:  We are always looking for volunteers to assist

1. You can volunteer to drive (distribute food) – Wednesday 1PM or Sunday 10 AM
2. Help with packaging our food – Wednesday Noon or Sunday 9 AM
3. Help pick-up the ingredients required for making the meals – any day

Financially:  You can help support this mission through your donations, which will assist with the purchase of food and packaging materials.

Checks may be made out to “NHELC” and sent to the below address or deposited in our church’s fellowship hall entrance’s mail slot (inset doors).  Please enter “Food Ministry” on the memo line to ensure it gets deposited into the Food Ministry account.

The New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church 2941 Lutheran Road Gilbertsville, PA 19525

– OR – by scanning this QR Code:

Donating Food:  You can drop off grocery donations on Sunday from 9 – 10 AM or Wednesday from 1 – 2 PM at the church kitchen entrance door (first door right side of building).  Someone will collect your items from you at the door or you can place the items on one of the carts outside and someone will take them inside shortly.  We are always in need of the following products:

• Hamburger
• Chicken (Thighs and breast meat)
• Pasta (ziti, elbows, bowties)
• Cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan)
• Potatoes
• Fresh Fruit (apples, oranges, bananas)
• Eggs

If in doubt, feel free to donate any nonperishable food item.  We’ll put it to good use.

The Food Ministry Board would like to THANK everyone who has already provided their time, talents and financial support to this amazing mission.  Because of your help and generous gifts, we have fed countless families and individuals who would have gone hungry. 

It’s true, we have made a significant impact to our neighbors with food insecurity, but we can do more – MUCH MORE!  Please continue your support or join those who are already making a difference, so we can expand our capacity.  Lastly, please consider introducing your friends, relatives, coworkers, etc. to this ministry and invite them to support it through volunteering, financially or dropping off food items as listed above.  We can provide “handouts” to help “tell” our story, just ask someone from the Food Ministry Board for them.

Thank you for your generosity.  Without it many would go hungry today.

Current Food Ministry Board:

• Stieven Weidner – President
• Todd Rothermel – Treasurer
• Chris Fatzinger – Director Loaves & Fishes
• Doug Senne – Garden of Hope Lead
• Sally Sugita – member
• Vicki Mutter – member
• Sharon Tracey – Meeting Scribe (non-member)

Link to Boyertown Expressions article:  https://boyertownareaexpression.town.news/g/gilbertsville-pa/n/294268/xxxxx-church-food-ministrys-impact-continue-grow