“The following is an update on our SVDP for the last few months:
1. Your food donations for the month of October totaled a record 940 pounds and 879 pounds for November. Even with additional food donations coming in from our churches within the Alliance of Community Churches, in November we had empty shelves in our pantry. We were forced to use your donated cash, which is normally reserved for payments of CPS and SAWS bills, as well as emergency rental assistance, to buy more food.
2. During the month of November, we spent $3,000 more than the entire income received for the month, mostly spent on payments of our client’s utility bills. This deficit was absorbed for the month. We are the custodians and caretakers of your donations; and as such, we had prepared for this expected situation of a deficit. We can continue for a few months to absorb additional deficits and dwindle down our account. However, at some time in 2022, we will be faced with a tough decision to decrease the amount of help we can offer a client with paying their utility bills.
3. During November, you donated 662 Thanksgiving bags of food. This is 130 more bags of food than that of 2020. Your donations have helped some 1,986 people to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Congratulations!
4. During December, you donated $14,100 for the Christmas Gift Card Project. This ensured that 318 people had a very merry Christmas. Again, congratulations!
This time of the year is very busy for SVDP. We have asked so much of you, not only for the above Projects, but also your continuous donations of food in the bins located in the church foyer. Plus, you have donated cash on a monthly basis which we use for payment of utility bills and rent for our clients. I, as well as our SVDP Members, wholeheartedly thank you for doing so much for our SVDP to ensure that we can continue our mission of serving our community poor. We, SVDP, are your representatives for helping our Brothers and Sisters in need, and we try our best to be successful in helping as many people as possible. Thanks so much for all your donations throughout the year. Remember, if you find yourselves in the need for help; or, if you know someone who is in the need for help, please call our office at 210-695-5683. We can help you. You are a blessed people and God will reward you for taking care of his poor. Blessings, Joseph Beach, President of SVDP.”