Donations Accepted Through Sunday, Dec. 21 • Donation Depot

As Advent unfolds around us—with its soft glow of candles, its quiet promise of hope, and its gentle invitation to make room for Christ—we are reminded that this sacred season is not meant to be experienced alone. It is a time when light grows in community, when generosity becomes an act of worship, and when compassion takes on flesh in the simplest of ways.

This year, more than ever, many families in Hendricks County are carrying heavy burdens. Rising costs of groceries, utilities, and everyday essentials have stretched household budgets beyond their limits. And while the world is decorating for Christmas, some of our neighbors are wondering how they’ll fill their pantry, let alone prepare a holiday meal.

A Family Waiting for Hope

Imagine, for a moment, a young family of three—a mother, father, and their newborn child. Their home is full of love and new-baby joy, but also the quiet worry that comes when bills stack up faster than paychecks. With a single income and the added expenses of formula, diapers, and medical needs, every dollar is weighed, every purchase reconsidered.

As Christmas approaches, they want to create a warm celebration for their baby’s first holiday. Yet behind their smiles is the question many families share this year:

Will we have enough?

It’s for families like this that our Christmas Food Drive exists. A few donated cans, a box of cereal, or a bag of rice can transform a season of worry into one of relief and gratitude.

How You Can Give

Throughout the Advent season, Plainfield UMC is collecting nonperishable foods to support local families facing food insecurity. Items such as:

• Canned vegetables and fruits
• Hearty soups, stews, and chili
• Pasta, rice, and boxed meals
• Peanut butter
• Cereal, oatmeal, granola
• Beans
• Shelf-stable milk or milk alternatives

Drop donations off during business hours at Door 2, or in the Donation Depot (near Door 1) on Sunday mornings, anytime before Sunday, Dec. 21.

A Call From the Heart of Advent

Advent is about preparing a place—for Christ in the world, and for compassion in our hearts. Giving to the food drive is a simple, beautiful way to live out that calling.
Your gift—small or large—can ease the burden of a neighbor and make Christmas morning brighter for a family who needs a sign of hope.
If you have questions or wish to arrange a larger donation, please contact Mary Raver at mraver@pumc.org.

May our generosity this season shine as brightly as the star that led the world to hope.