"And taking the five loaves and the two fish, [Jesus] looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces" (Luke 9:16-17). 

As part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) ongoing response to hunger in communities across the United States and the Caribbean, Gainesville Community Ministry (GCM) is partnering with Gethsemane Lutheran Church and ELCA World Hunger to raise funds toward the purchase of a new commercial refrigerator/freezer for the food pantry. By building cold storage capacity, GCM can serve more people as well as provide a more nutritious variety of food, such as fresh and frozen produce.

This Daily Bread Matching Grant fundraiser will enable GCM to leverage your giits to secure the maximum matching support available. ELCA World Hunger is kickstarting our fundraiser with a $500 matching grant. All donations and matching funds will go to GCM. Together, let's raise $500 (with a stretch goal of $1,500) and fully match the grant! We have until Sunday, June 19th to meet our goal. Every gift truly makes a difference to our neighbors experiencing food insecurity due to enduring economic hardships— thank you for your support!

About GCM

GCM has been delivering crisis assistance to elderly, disabled, and low-income residents of Gainesville and Alachua County since 1971. GCM also brings hope to the "working poor" through health clinics as well as educational, financial, and computer literacy, and job training programs. The on-site food pantry is the primary entry point for most GCM clients. In 2020 and 2021, GCM saw an increase in those seeking assistance with food insecurity, and the need has remained elevated in 2022.

About ELCA World Hunger 

Working with and through ELCA congregations in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, plus Lutheran churches overseas and other partners, ELCA World Hunger is uniquely positioned to reach communities in need. From health clinics to microloans, from water wells to animal husbandry, and from community meals to advocacy, ELCA World Hunger supports sustainable solutions that attack the root causes of hunger and poverty.