Safe-Way Doors has donated $3,500 to St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Thanksgiving Basket Outreach program. Shown at the check presentation, from left, are Deb Blatz and Cathy Carter, Thanksgiving Basket Coordinators; Rev. Ryan Fischer, Rector at St. Anne’s;and Ashley Sumpter, Customer Care Representative from Safe-Way Door. Not shown are Cheryl Hastings, co-coordinator of Thanksgiving Basket Outreach; Marissa Geimer, marketing coordinator and Ron Howe from Safeway Door. Photo provided by Carol Bianchini.

News Release

WARSAW — St. Anne’s Episcopal Church received a boost in it’s Thanksgiving Basket Outreach Ministry from Safe-way Garage Doors. Officials with the company presented a check to the church for its outreach ministry program.

This year is the 19th year of the church’s Thanksgiving Outreach Ministry and they plan to provide 200 meals. It is a huge undertaking for the church and one that provides great blessings to all involved. Its goal was to provide an entire meal that would not only feed a family on Thanksgiving but provide leftovers that would feed them over the holiday weekend.

This year the Salvation Army donated green beans, corn, mushroom soup and applesauce and is also raising funds. Safeway Door heard about the ministry and asked if they could also be a part of sharing in this ministry. They donated a check for $3,500 towards this ministry. The Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association has also asked for donations to help with this project.

The cost of this outreach is approximately $7,000-$8,000. St. Anne’s purchases all of the non-refrigerated items for the baskets: stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole ingredients, cream of mushroom soup, fried onions, corn, and applesauce. The recipients will also receive a voucher for $35 to purchase, their choice of meat, dessert and dinner rolls.

The ministry commission pre-orders the food and plan to pick up all of the dry goods on Saturday, Nov. 18 from Owens. On Sunday, St. Anne’s Celebrates Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Between the two services at 9 a.m. members set up an assembly line to pack the meals. There are volunteers not only from St. Anne’s but from the businesses and organizations that partner with them. Many hands make light work.

The church receives the names of those to receive the meals from the Warsaw School Systems, Beaman Home, Salvation Army, CCS and Fellowship Mission. Each family is mailed a postcard they bring with them to pick up their meal. Meals are picked up between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19 and between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20.

People who wish to donate toward this ministry, should write a check to St. Anne’s and write Thanksgiving baskets on the memo line. Donations can be given for the price of a single Thanksgiving meal at approximately $60 or a portion of one.

St. Anne’s is blessed with a church family that gives so generously to others in need.