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Donations are in the Jeans...

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More than 23 years ago, who knew that the meal program, known in the community as Women's & Children's Free Restaurant, would remain in the basement of St. Paul's Church all this time!

We have been so grateful to the congregation for their love and care of our program.  They have allowed us to create a space that has been inviting and comforting to women and children in need.  As the number of women and children who needed food grew, so did our operation.  We continued to sprawl out through the entire basement and even took over some storage on the 3^rd floor! 

For more than one year now, the congregation has been working with the United Methodist leadership and WCFR on a future for the building.  The congregation has grown small, and can no longer support the building.  As of the first of March, the church building has been put on the market for sale.

The staff and Board of Directors of WCFR have decided to use this opportunity to explore finding a new home.  There have been a number of challenges to our current location, but the generosity of the congregation always out-weighed those challenges.  Being located in the basement has created some strong muscles on those staff and volunteers who have hauled down 325,000+ pounds of food.  Our storage of food has been spread out, sometimes causing inventory headaches.  Guests, volunteers and staff miss being able to look out the window and connect with the world outside.

We remain very committed to staying in the West Central Neighborhood.  This has been our home for more than 23 years and many of our guests live in this neighborhood.  We are an important part of their well-being.

A team is currently examining other West Central locations.  We will begin a capital campaign sometime this year, in order to raise funds to buy a building.  There are grant programs and other large gifts that are available to non-profits who are seeking a permanent home.  Owning our own building is the best way to guarantee that WCFR will continue to be a community safety-net. 

We will certainly need your support.  Of course, we need your donations to maintain our current programs - they are our highest priority.  We will also need your donations to help us buy a new building.  I ask that you give some thought to making a plan so that you can continue your current support, but also add support of a capital campaign to your giving.  The legacy created by contributing to our permanent home will impact many generations.  You can make a donation right now if you like, just by clicking here. 

With your help, there won't be any gaps in service to our women and children.    This is a very exciting time for us - finding a new, permanent home from which to efficiently provide meals to women and children in need.  Stay tuned to our newsletter - we'll keep you updated on our plans and also publicize our needs here.  Thank you again for your support of WCFR.