Hey Reader,

August was the month we found our footing again — and, quietly, the month God set some very big things in motion for what's next.

Three of those things — a new food-box partnership with Victory Ministries / Center of Hope, a free health clinic in the works for our neighbors, and the Christmas Store 2026 launch — are going to shape the rest of our year. Some of it starts this month, and some of it is going to need your hands starting in October.

Let me tell you where we've been, and where we need you next.

August Recap

A Bridge to Sustainable Food 🥫

If you remember, we paused Food Pantry and Food Box Delivery in July and August to rethink the whole thing. We had to. Our old model relied entirely on private food donations from the church — which was faithful and beautiful for a season, but it wasn't sustainable, and the need is only growing.

Here's the good news: we've built a bridge to something bigger. Our long-time partners and dear friends at Victory Ministries / Center of Hope have committed to packing and providing every single food box we distribute. All we have to do is show up, pick them up, and deliver them.

That's not a small shift. That's a total change in what's possible for us.

Why this matters right now: the recent Supreme Court decisions around TPS have left many of our Haitian neighbors — and many other immigrant families we serve — genuinely afraid to leave home. These food boxes are going to go directly to families in that fear. Haitian, Congolese, Somali, Latin American — many nations represented in this distribution. We meet them where they are.

More on how you can help with deliveries in the September section below.

Free Health Screenings are Coming 🩺

In August we also began the conversations that will build towards bringing free health screenings for our neighbors — no cost, no insurance required.

We're partnering with a local medical student organization, supervised by licensed physicians. When it launches (target: this fall, before winter), services will include:

• Blood pressure checks
• Blood sugar screenings
• Vision screenings (with 100+ pairs of reading glasses on hand)
• One-on-one time with a physician
• On-site info for Medicaid enrollment, dental/vision referrals, and mental health resources

Kickoff date is still in limbo — more info coming soon. If you know a neighbor who needs this, start letting them know it's on the way.

The Numbers

Back to a full four-Thursday rhythm at the Resource Hub. Here's what a normal, healthy month at the door looks like now that we're back:

• 🙋 30 unique neighbors served — about 7 of them brand new to us
• 🚪 58 total check-ins at the Thursday Resource Hub
• 👕 ~73 lbs of clothing distributed (~36 women's, ~38 men's)
• 🧴 217 hygiene items distributed
• 👟 4 pairs of shoes
• 🍲 58 hot meals
• 🚌 77 bus passes

Our neighbors are coming back in real numbers. September is going to be bigger.

September News

🚚 Food Box Deliveries are BACK — Sept. 17

Here's the ask that matters most this month.

Our first-ever Victory Ministries–powered food box delivery happens Thursday, September 17, 3:00–5:00 PM. Meet at the church, grab a route, deliver a box to a neighbor who needs it. Simple, sacred work.

We also have delivery dates already on the calendar through November — please sign up now for future dates too so we can plan.

👉 Sign up for a delivery date at life2cbus.org/serve​

🧺 Nonprofit Closet Outreach

Elizabeth is throwing open the doors of the Community Closet to our fellow nonprofits so they can shop for kids' and teens' items (under 18), women's pajamas/skirts/dresses, and a solid selection of menswear. We need volunteer hands day-of to help Elizabeth get everything to our nonprofit friends. Arrive early for the best selection — and please, come help.

👉 Sign up to help Sept 19​

🎄 Introducing... The Christmas Free Store

For the first time ever, we will be transforming our building into a free Christmas store! But to make this happen, we need your help along the way.

On Saturday, December 12, we'll host a free Christmas Store where parents can shop — dignified, with real choice — for gifts for their kids. Toys, clothes, shoes, all of it wrapped up on-site.

But we can't do December 12 without September, October, and November. The first way you can plug in:

• 🗓️ Christmas Store Sorting Event — Saturday, October 4 (12:45–2:45 PM) at the church. We'll sort and count our toy and clothing inventory by age bracket and gender so we know exactly what we have before family sign-ups open. Grab a couple hours and come help.

👉 Sign up for the Oct 4 sort​

More Christmas Store serve opportunities will roll out through the fall. Get on the list now.

On the Nines — a note from Elizabeth 💭

Here's what's happening this month:

👉 Sign up at life2cbus.org/serve​

Donation Needs Corner 🔧

Here's what we need most. If you can grab any of this on your next Target run — or rally your small group to take a category — drop it off at the church on a Sunday.

🧼 Sticks of Deodorant (highest need)

🪒 Men's + Women's Razors (highest need)

👟 Men's new or used shoes

👔 New or gently used men's clothing

Prayers + Praise

Pray With Us 🙏

Names listed by initials only to protect privacy.

Would you carry these with us this month?

• J — Pray for their upcoming move out of state — for safety, provision, and a smooth transition into what's next.
• C — Continued strength and grace in their sobriety journey. One day at a time.
• N + J — Restoration in their marriage. Cover this couple in patience, humility, and healing.
• B — Stable, safe housing. That the right door would open at the right time.
• Our Haitian, Congolese, and immigrant neighbors — facing real fear right now amid TPS uncertainty. Peace, protection, and a community that stays close.

Praise Reports 🎉

Names by initials, same reason.

• C — Entered a rehab center to better themselves. This is huge — a hard, brave, holy step. Praise God with us for the courage it took, and please keep this journey in prayer.

“Who stands firm? Only the one whose ultimate standard is not his reason, his principles, conscience, freedom, or virtue; only the one who is prepared to sacrifice all of these when, in faith and in relationship to God alone, he is called to obedient and responsible action. Such a person odd the responsible one, whose life is to be nothing but a response to God’s question and call. Where are these responsible ones?” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out via email: Aaron@LIFE2Cbus.org

Aaron Ellington

Founder/Director

​LIFE2Cbus​

"Faith without [servanthood] is dead."

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