All of the sudden, late on a Friday, the Union Mission’s huge commercial freezer stopped working, leaving 3 tons of food in danger of spoiling. This is very upsetting when it happens to a single family, but this freezer supplies food to about 160 families and 19 food pantries each month.
“Within two hours, the freezer was emptied and all the food was distributed to needy families in our community,” Warehouse Director Kathy McFarland said.
Staff had been closely monitoring the freezer’s compressor and when it ceased to function, they began emergency efforts to ensure nothing was wasted. This is no ordinary compressor that can be purchased at a local appliance store. This compressor cools a 20×28 foot room that is 8 feet tall! To replace just that one part, it was going to take almost $4000 and a week to get the part installed. The labor cost brought the estimate to around $6500.
Summer is an exceptionally lean time for Union Mission when it comes to available cash. Donations are at their lowest. That huge repair bill just wasn’t in the budget. So, as over $10,000 worth of food was beginning to thaw, our options were looking pretty bleak.
As staff was loading the food onto trucks, an emergency fundraising campaign was launched to see if our donors could help us raise the money for repairs.
“Our donors trust that we will make sure their gifts are handled properly,” McFarland said. “It is a miracle that not only was every drop of food given to needy families, but money needed for repairs was raised within 4 hours.”
Union Mission trucks were set up in the parking lot of a local public housing complex and staff knocked on doors to let people know what was going on. People were so happy to receive the food. Neighbors joined staff in notifying everyone and a crowd gathered quickly.
“It was such a blessing to see the community come together to take care of each other,” McFarland said. “People were knocking on their neighbors doors, delivering food to the elderly and shut ins, and they even brought plastic bags to split up and distribute items to each other to make sure no one was left out.”
We asked you, our donors, to not only help us get the $6500 to repair the freezer, but also asked for an additional $3500 to restock the freezer with food once it was fixed. Through email and Facebook, we made our petition known. So, how did it go?
One post on Facebook was shared 125 times and over 8000 people saw it. Our email went out to several thousand donors that same day. Your response was incredible!
Within 4 hours we reached the $5000 mark. As Union Mission staff was distributing 3 tons of high quality food, individuals, businesses, and organizations stepped up to help us get this vital piece of equipment repaired. At the $7000 mark, the Daywood Foundation pledged to get us to our goal! At the time this story was written, we are at 126% of our goal (over $12k). The new compressor is being installed and tested, and we will soon have food back in the freezer. By the time this is published, we should be back up to full capacity. Don’t you just love how God uses people to answer prayer?!
SO, HERE IS HOW A BROKEN FREEZER BRINGS HOPE
First, we are able to continue providing food to people in need. As you can imagine, our frozen food is where most of our protein resides (meat, etc.). Without it, many of the families we help would not have access to complete meals.
Second, our staff got to see first hand how people who love Union Mission stepped up when we were in crisis. Their day started with a defrosting freezer and ended with not only a rejoicing neighborhood, but a successful fundraiser.
Third, over 30 people gave to the Union Mission for the first time! We are excited to build new relationships as we move into our fall season.
Fourth, and most importantly, everyone involved can see how coming together as a community can do incredible things. God answers prayer and He uses His people to do it.
If you gave to Union Mission for our freezer issue, thank you so much! If you prayed for Union Mission during this time, I encourage you to make note of this very public answer to prayer. Lastly, share this story with others. Use it as a testimony of how people can do great things with there is unity! Thank you and God Bless!
