Mondamin UMC Matthew's House Food Pantry: World-Transforming Communities of Faith
In the summer of 2010, a stranger stopped at the Mondamin United Methodist Church on Sunday morning, explaining that he and his family were traveling on I-29 on their way home to Minnesota. They had run out of money for food and the children were hungry. Church members collected resources from their home to meet this single nee, but they quickly realize that this one instance wasn’t an isolated event, that there were many people in the area that were going hungry. The church set up a meal delivery plan and volunteers cooked and delivered individual meals to those in need in the immediate area.
The church members quickly became aware that the need for food security was bigger than the capabilities of individual volunteers and single deliveries and Matthew’s House Food Pantry became fully operation in the spring of 2011. They started that first month with $800, 2,000 pounds of food and 200 people. Matthew’s House now distributes between 15,000-20,000 pounds of food per month and reaches an average of 735 per month.
Mondamin UMC’s Matthew House Ministry has become a partner for many other ministries and organizations in the area, and we lift them up as a World-Transforming Community of Faith for the positive impact this ministry has made in building up the community. Matthew’s House is supported by local United Methodist Churches, the West Harrison, Logan and Missouri Valley School districts, several large grocery stores in Council Bluffs, and just about every community organization that exists in Harrison County. This ministry not only provides resources for those facing food insecurity each month, but also a strong sense of community as both clients and volunteers often rejoice, mourn and pray together while packing groceries.
This ministry is partially funded by a Southwest District Matthew 25 Grant, which is part of the Iowa Annual Conference apportionments. The directors at Mondamin Matthew’s House share:
“Without the Matthew 25 grant funds, maintaining this ministry, especially at the number of those who need the help with food, would be problematic. These funds underlie all that we do and are pivotal in our being able to sustain this mission: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in.’ All in need are welcomed at Matthew’s House Food Pantry; all are given food and something to drink.”
The church members quickly became aware that the need for food security was bigger than the capabilities of individual volunteers and single deliveries and Matthew’s House Food Pantry became fully operation in the spring of 2011. They started that first month with $800, 2,000 pounds of food and 200 people. Matthew’s House now distributes between 15,000-20,000 pounds of food per month and reaches an average of 735 per month.
Mondamin UMC’s Matthew House Ministry has become a partner for many other ministries and organizations in the area, and we lift them up as a World-Transforming Community of Faith for the positive impact this ministry has made in building up the community. Matthew’s House is supported by local United Methodist Churches, the West Harrison, Logan and Missouri Valley School districts, several large grocery stores in Council Bluffs, and just about every community organization that exists in Harrison County. This ministry not only provides resources for those facing food insecurity each month, but also a strong sense of community as both clients and volunteers often rejoice, mourn and pray together while packing groceries.
This ministry is partially funded by a Southwest District Matthew 25 Grant, which is part of the Iowa Annual Conference apportionments. The directors at Mondamin Matthew’s House share:
“Without the Matthew 25 grant funds, maintaining this ministry, especially at the number of those who need the help with food, would be problematic. These funds underlie all that we do and are pivotal in our being able to sustain this mission: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in.’ All in need are welcomed at Matthew’s House Food Pantry; all are given food and something to drink.”
West Harrison Highschoolers who help unload the food truck every month
Boy Scouts and one of their regular food donations to Matthew's House
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