Super Food Bowl Sunday for Our Daily Bread Food Pantry

It was a “super” Sunday for Our Daily Bread Food Pantry (ODBFP) when United Church of Marco Island Mission Committee awarded them $50,000 on February 12th. This is the first award from UCMI’s 2023 list of mission giving and indicates another strong gift from their 2023 budget.

The United Church of Marco Island designated the 12th as “Super Food Bowl Sunday.” Pat Kaufman, serving as liaison for ODBFP on the Missions Committee, recommended hosting a friendly competitive food drive that would culminate on Super Bowl Sunday.

On the 12th, all the food collected was placed on the altar to be blessed. Each side of the altar was designated in support of the two Super Bowl Teams - Eagles and Chiefs - and members of the congregation dropped off their food items in the designated spot of their team. The congregation’s response was overwhelming, collecting 1,728 pounds of nonperishable food items for ODBFP. While the actual game had a different ending, on Super Food Bowl Sunday, Team Eagle outweighed Team Kansas City Chiefs.

Reverend Dr. Mark Williams remarked that “United Church and United Church’s Bargain Basket have supported Our Daily Bread since it came into existence. When we saw their passion for helping the hungry - we wanted to be there to help. Preaching while surrounded by beans, toilet paper, and boxes of Cheerios at our altar made for a special day. Actions speak louder than words. I’m not sure I could have said anything that day that would have communicated our church’s calling to love those in need quite like standing in the center of a big pig pile of donated food. Wow! Heaven is described as a wedding feast. If heaven is indeed described as food extended to us, then I’d like to think every time we extend food to others in need in our community, heaven comes to earth.”

According to Amanda Nelson, Executive Director for ODBFP, “our entire community benefits from such an important gift from the Missions Committee of the United Church of Marco Island.  This will enable ODBFP to purchase nutritious food for our guests in need, helping our neighbors to have one less thing to worry about when deciding which bills to pay.  We are deeply grateful to the parishioners of UCMI, and for our strong partnership with such a giving ministry.”

The Pantry served 194,497 individuals in 2022 and is forecasted to serve 224,880 individuals for 2023 supported by 200 volunteers.

Since it was launched in 2016, ODBFP have grown their services to include a Saturday drive-through food pantry on Winterberry Drive; 15 mobile outreaches supporting a monthly senior lunch (Lunch with Friends) in partnership with the YMCA of Collier County; a Backpack Program for Manatee Elementary and Middle School as well as Marco Island Charter Middle School and a weekly breakfast program for Marco Island Charter Middle School.

The mobile pantry program is in conjunction with Allyson Richard’s “Al’s Pals.” Each week the mobile pantry goes on location to serve individuals with limited mobility or who are unable to attend the weekly Saturday Pantry Day at the Winterberry location.  

How can you help? The next time you go shopping, consider the following food items: 15oz cans of canned vegetables, beans, chili, Chef Boyardee, canned fruits, and canned pasta along with spaghetti and cereals. When buying BOGO, keep one for yourself and donate the second food item. ODBFP’s partner, Winn-Dixie, has a convenient collection box just before you exit the store.