Supplying Needs has been busy in the past few weeks. We have received yes's from wholesalers who are willing to give on a regular basis. We are excited what this will do for our community since Stockton is 4th in the nation for hungry people.
Just yesterday we received 3,000 packages of ham hocks. We were able to pass them out to people we knew who are in need of food as well as 4 churches who give to the poor on a weekly or monthly basis. While we were loading up one church with ham hocks they mentioned that a soda company gives to them. But when the church picks up from the company they want to give the church more than they can handle. The pastor asked if we would start picking up for them that way they can get what they want for the church and we can have the rest to distribute to individuals and other groups.
A week ago we picked up from another wholesaler that wants to give to us once a month. This wholesaler is connected with a grocery chain. The the grocery store gives their damaged goods to this wholesaler and the wholesaler sells it to dollar stores and other places at a low cost. They are willing to give us about 6 pallets a month of their assorted food, drinks, pet food, and non-edible items. Supplying Needs was very excited when we got a call saying they had their first load for us to come pick up. We received everything you can think of: bottled water, rice, canned goods, soup, granola bars, candy bars, peanut butter, toilet paper, dish soap, pet food, cleaning supplies, and much much more.
We are excited what God is doing through Supplying Needs and we look forward to what He has in store for us next.
Sincerely,
Supplying Needs
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Belize
Supplying Needs had the privileged of traveling to Belize. A plane ticket was donated to one of our directors in hopes to connect with LOL ministries an organization that is building an orphanage in Belize. The goal of the trip was to see what LOL ministries is doing and see if Supplying Needs would want to help contribute to the efforts LOL ministries is doing with the local Belizeans. The trip was a success and we here at Supplying Needs find it an honor to have been intrudced to such a ministry. We look forward to future interactions with LOL ministries.
We recommend you check them out at www.lolministry.com.
God Bless,
Supplying Needs
v
We recommend you check them out at www.lolministry.com.
God Bless,
Supplying Needs
v
Monday, February 15, 2010
Distributing Food
Since receiving the huge donation of food and supplies in mid-January from the grocery store that had the fire Supplying Needs has been able to give out half the food in a matter of 3 short weeks. The food has gone to 7 churches who reach out to their community and some have come back multiple times to pick up the donated items. Supplying Needs has also been able to directly give food to 9 families.
Here are some testimonies:
One church has been giving food out in a time of need to their congregation. The pastor was praying and planning to open up the food pantry to the public this March of 2010. He had been praying for God to open doors for them to start receiving food when he got our call. When we arrived the Pastor had said this was an answer to pray.
Another church had given almost all their food out in November and December and were strategizing how they could get more food for those in need when we called. They came by to the office building that was donated to us for one month and took as much as they could fit in their vehicles.
Another pastor had just moved to Stockton from San Fransisco looking for cheaper rent. He saw there was such a need here that he started helping his surrounding area. We were connected to this pastor through a man that does Celebrate Recovery at one of the churches we give to. The first week we gave food to him he had two or three families by the next week he had a list of ten families that were in need of food and clothing.
One church we give to helps 60 people per week and another church over 300 people.
God continues to blow us away with His timing and His strategic planning to connect us with churches who have a heart to help the poor, hungry and lost.
On a final note we just learned that Stockton is number 4 in the nation of hungry people.
There is such a need here in the City of Stockton.
Kind Regards,
Supplying Needs
Here are some testimonies:
One church has been giving food out in a time of need to their congregation. The pastor was praying and planning to open up the food pantry to the public this March of 2010. He had been praying for God to open doors for them to start receiving food when he got our call. When we arrived the Pastor had said this was an answer to pray.
Another church had given almost all their food out in November and December and were strategizing how they could get more food for those in need when we called. They came by to the office building that was donated to us for one month and took as much as they could fit in their vehicles.
Another pastor had just moved to Stockton from San Fransisco looking for cheaper rent. He saw there was such a need here that he started helping his surrounding area. We were connected to this pastor through a man that does Celebrate Recovery at one of the churches we give to. The first week we gave food to him he had two or three families by the next week he had a list of ten families that were in need of food and clothing.
One church we give to helps 60 people per week and another church over 300 people.
God continues to blow us away with His timing and His strategic planning to connect us with churches who have a heart to help the poor, hungry and lost.
On a final note we just learned that Stockton is number 4 in the nation of hungry people.
There is such a need here in the City of Stockton.
Kind Regards,
Supplying Needs
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
A Fire Turned into a Blessing.
In August the mini bus arrived safely in Stockton California all the way from Pennsylvania. Since then we have been approaching every grocery store in a 30 mile radius. One grocery store said they would give their non-sellable products to us but when we called each week or went in to see them they said they did not have anything and that instead they would call us. They kept telling us that if they had anything they would contact us not the other way around.
That was months ago. But in mid January we got a call from the same grocery store saying there was a fire and for us to come down and recieve the food. When our crew got to the store the owner showed us around by flash light because they no longer had electricity. He then proceeded to tell us that all the food was ours and we needed to get the food out as soon as possible.
We worked 6 hours that day filling our refrigerated box truck from top to bottom with food. The food wasn't damaged but they could no longer sell it. So we filled up grocery carts row by row and then dumped it in the truck. Clearing each aisle as fast as possible. The next day we unloaded the truck and then went back again to start the whole process over again. It took us 3 days to unload the whole store.
During the 6 days loading and unloading we filled a 10x20 storage unit full of food and an owner of a strip mall of offices gave us office space one month FOR FREE. Now both the storeage unit and office is full of food.
As of now we have one month to empty the office. Churches are coming and loading up their vehicles with food for thier outreaches. One church we are giving to gives to 70 families and another church gives to approaximately 350 people.
God has blessed us in abundance and we are so grateful He chose us for a time such as things.
To God be the Gorly,
Supplying Needs
That was months ago. But in mid January we got a call from the same grocery store saying there was a fire and for us to come down and recieve the food. When our crew got to the store the owner showed us around by flash light because they no longer had electricity. He then proceeded to tell us that all the food was ours and we needed to get the food out as soon as possible.
We worked 6 hours that day filling our refrigerated box truck from top to bottom with food. The food wasn't damaged but they could no longer sell it. So we filled up grocery carts row by row and then dumped it in the truck. Clearing each aisle as fast as possible. The next day we unloaded the truck and then went back again to start the whole process over again. It took us 3 days to unload the whole store.
During the 6 days loading and unloading we filled a 10x20 storage unit full of food and an owner of a strip mall of offices gave us office space one month FOR FREE. Now both the storeage unit and office is full of food.
As of now we have one month to empty the office. Churches are coming and loading up their vehicles with food for thier outreaches. One church we are giving to gives to 70 families and another church gives to approaximately 350 people.
God has blessed us in abundance and we are so grateful He chose us for a time such as things.
To God be the Gorly,
Supplying Needs
One out of the two of our Storage Units
Card board bins full
Our Truck full from top to bottom
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Supplying Needs 2009 - A Year in Review
"And the same God that takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
"And the same God that takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:19
It is with much joy that we are able to write this report on Supplying Needs. The vision of Supplying Needs began approximately 5 years ago, in the winter of 2004. At that time we (Joel and Dess Butler) were living in Stockton, CA while volunteering with the relief organization Friend Ships (www.friendships.org). Through a series of God given dreams and visions, the directive was given to start an international outreach ministry, the only question was WHEN?? We were fully involved with Friend Ships and knew we had years of service left with that ministry. So we wondered when, where and how God was going to start this ministry.
As the years went by, the vision and desire for this new ministry grew stronger. In the summer of 2008, we left Friend Ships without any clear direction of what God was going to do through us. We still hadn't been given the go ahead to start our own organization yet. We took a few months off to visit our families and to try to gain insight into what God wanted us to do next. After pastoring for 3 months at Dess' father's churches we felt that God had given us the OK to start Supplying Needs and to move back to Stockton, CA.
It was March of 2009 that the ground work and paperwork began for Supplying Needs. Who knew that there was so much involved in starting up a non-profit organization? But with the help of the Bishop at our local church and a website designed for helping start-up non-profit organizations, Supplying Needs was incorporated in the State of California by May 28th, 2009. The next series of paperwor was the most involved and that was for obtaining federal tax-exempt status. Once this paperwork was submitted, we were off to Pennsylvania!
Christian Missionary Technical Services (CMTS) out of Bernville, PA had offered to donate a mini-bus to Supplying Needs. We traveled to Pennsylvania and received one of our first major donations. Over the course of about 4 weeks, much work was put into the mini-bus. We had tons of help from our firends Josh and Rebekah Larson (ex-Friend Ships crew), as well as support from the CMTS workers. The mini-bus was a thing of beauty when it was driven away from CMTS with special thanks to Bryan Myers who put a frest coat of white paint with black trim on it.
By the time the mini-bus was driven back to California, the paperwork for Federal Tax-Exemption had been approved. It was on July 2nd, 2009 that Supplying Needs became a Federal Tax Exempt Corporation (aka 501 (c) 3). We had heard and read that this paperwork could take from months to over a year to be completely processed and compliant. So there was much rejoicing when we found out that we had been approved in less than 2 months. The final piece of paperwork was the California State exempt status and we received that on September 30th, 2009.
Immediately after we received our 501 (c) 3 we started approaching local grocery stores and markets in regards to donating their non-sellable produce to our organization for use in local outreaches. Time and time again we received the answer "NO". It was tough knowing that so many stores have food going to waste but that they were unwilling to donate the product. In the course of 6 months, we have approached 68 stores with only a handful who have agreed to donate and only one market which has donated faithfully. We have received approximately 190 pounds of assorted produce in donations.
Another donation we have been receiving is used clothing. Not long after our return to Stockton, we were using a laundromat and met a friendly worker, John. When John heard about our upcoming ministry and all that we were preparing to do, he got very excited and offered to request donations of clothing from the patrons of the Laundromat. Since then we have received over 19 large bags of clothes from John. These clothes are going to local churches for use in outreaches to the community.
Our final and biggest blessing to our ministry came just in time for Christmas. Joel was able to go to Louisiana and return with a donated 26 foot long refrigerated box truck. This is such a huge blessing because it opens up the doors for us to make donation requests from wholesalers, farmers, distribution centers and packing houses. We are praying that 2010 will open up some new and wonderful avenues of ministry.
We are very thankful to everyone who has been supporting us in 2009 through prayers, love and donations.
Our hope and prayer for 2010 is:
1) A warehouse for our ministry.
2) Volunteers who would catch the vision and work alongside of us.
3) Many, many company donors of food, clothing, toy, furniture, etc.
4) Many, many, many more churches who would step out in faith and reach out to their community with what God provides for Supplying Needs.
Please keep these 4 things in you prayers as well.
In Christ's Love,
Joel and Dess Butler
Directors of Supplying Needs
Our Truck
Our Bus
It is with much joy that we are able to write this report on Supplying Needs. The vision of Supplying Needs began approximately 5 years ago, in the winter of 2004. At that time we (Joel and Dess Butler) were living in Stockton, CA while volunteering with the relief organization Friend Ships (www.friendships.org). Through a series of God given dreams and visions, the directive was given to start an international outreach ministry, the only question was WHEN?? We were fully involved with Friend Ships and knew we had years of service left with that ministry. So we wondered when, where and how God was going to start this ministry.
As the years went by, the vision and desire for this new ministry grew stronger. In the summer of 2008, we left Friend Ships without any clear direction of what God was going to do through us. We still hadn't been given the go ahead to start our own organization yet. We took a few months off to visit our families and to try to gain insight into what God wanted us to do next. After pastoring for 3 months at Dess' father's churches we felt that God had given us the OK to start Supplying Needs and to move back to Stockton, CA.
It was March of 2009 that the ground work and paperwork began for Supplying Needs. Who knew that there was so much involved in starting up a non-profit organization? But with the help of the Bishop at our local church and a website designed for helping start-up non-profit organizations, Supplying Needs was incorporated in the State of California by May 28th, 2009. The next series of paperwor was the most involved and that was for obtaining federal tax-exempt status. Once this paperwork was submitted, we were off to Pennsylvania!
Christian Missionary Technical Services (CMTS) out of Bernville, PA had offered to donate a mini-bus to Supplying Needs. We traveled to Pennsylvania and received one of our first major donations. Over the course of about 4 weeks, much work was put into the mini-bus. We had tons of help from our firends Josh and Rebekah Larson (ex-Friend Ships crew), as well as support from the CMTS workers. The mini-bus was a thing of beauty when it was driven away from CMTS with special thanks to Bryan Myers who put a frest coat of white paint with black trim on it.
By the time the mini-bus was driven back to California, the paperwork for Federal Tax-Exemption had been approved. It was on July 2nd, 2009 that Supplying Needs became a Federal Tax Exempt Corporation (aka 501 (c) 3). We had heard and read that this paperwork could take from months to over a year to be completely processed and compliant. So there was much rejoicing when we found out that we had been approved in less than 2 months. The final piece of paperwork was the California State exempt status and we received that on September 30th, 2009.
Immediately after we received our 501 (c) 3 we started approaching local grocery stores and markets in regards to donating their non-sellable produce to our organization for use in local outreaches. Time and time again we received the answer "NO". It was tough knowing that so many stores have food going to waste but that they were unwilling to donate the product. In the course of 6 months, we have approached 68 stores with only a handful who have agreed to donate and only one market which has donated faithfully. We have received approximately 190 pounds of assorted produce in donations.
Another donation we have been receiving is used clothing. Not long after our return to Stockton, we were using a laundromat and met a friendly worker, John. When John heard about our upcoming ministry and all that we were preparing to do, he got very excited and offered to request donations of clothing from the patrons of the Laundromat. Since then we have received over 19 large bags of clothes from John. These clothes are going to local churches for use in outreaches to the community.
Our final and biggest blessing to our ministry came just in time for Christmas. Joel was able to go to Louisiana and return with a donated 26 foot long refrigerated box truck. This is such a huge blessing because it opens up the doors for us to make donation requests from wholesalers, farmers, distribution centers and packing houses. We are praying that 2010 will open up some new and wonderful avenues of ministry.
We are very thankful to everyone who has been supporting us in 2009 through prayers, love and donations.
Our hope and prayer for 2010 is:
1) A warehouse for our ministry.
2) Volunteers who would catch the vision and work alongside of us.
3) Many, many company donors of food, clothing, toy, furniture, etc.
4) Many, many, many more churches who would step out in faith and reach out to their community with what God provides for Supplying Needs.
Please keep these 4 things in you prayers as well.
In Christ's Love,
Joel and Dess Butler
Directors of Supplying Needs
Our Truck
Our Bus
2009 Quick Review:
May 28, 2009 Supplying Needs became an official Non-Profit Corporation
July 2, 2009 Supplying Needs became a Federal 501 (c) 3 Tax Exempt Organization
September 30, 2009 Supplying Needs became Tax Exempt in the State of California
This year Supplying Needs has received the following donations:
Laptop
Mini School Bus
2 Printer/Copiers/Fax machines
13 Cases of Bread
19 Large bags of Clothes
190 pounds of produce
3 - 20 pound Turkeys with the total of 60 pounds
26' Refrigerated box truck
Love seat and Sofa
We have approached over 68 grocery stores and 34 warehouses.
Supplying Needs has given out:
13 Cases of Bread
148 pounds of food
10 bags of clothes
The recipients have been:
Victory in Praise Church
Calvary First Assembly of God
People from UCP (United Cerebral Palsy)
People in the community in need
May 28, 2009 Supplying Needs became an official Non-Profit Corporation
July 2, 2009 Supplying Needs became a Federal 501 (c) 3 Tax Exempt Organization
September 30, 2009 Supplying Needs became Tax Exempt in the State of California
This year Supplying Needs has received the following donations:
Laptop
Mini School Bus
2 Printer/Copiers/Fax machines
13 Cases of Bread
19 Large bags of Clothes
190 pounds of produce
3 - 20 pound Turkeys with the total of 60 pounds
26' Refrigerated box truck
Love seat and Sofa
We have approached over 68 grocery stores and 34 warehouses.
Supplying Needs has given out:
13 Cases of Bread
148 pounds of food
10 bags of clothes
The recipients have been:
Victory in Praise Church
Calvary First Assembly of God
People from UCP (United Cerebral Palsy)
People in the community in need
Monday, August 17, 2009
Starting with a Mini-Bus
Our crew has come back from picking up the Mini-bus that was donated to Supplying Needs.
Supplying Needs has now started approaching grocery stores for their non-sellable products. We hope to give the donations to churches and other groups who are reaching out to the poor, hungry, and homeless in their community. We have contacted a few shelters and some churches about receiving perishable food product. Our orgazination hopes that through these groups a difference can be made in a community that has been hit hard by the economy.
To God Be the Glory,
Supplying Needs
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Donated Bus
Supplying Needs has received a donation of a mini-bus from a mission organization in Pennsylvania. We are very excited about this donation and what it will mean to our work efforts. We will be flying crew over to fix and drive the bus back to California. When it arrives in Stockton Supplying Needs will be able to start picking donated food up from grocery and retail stores. We will then give the donated food to groups and churches who are feeding and helping the homeless, the poor, and the hungry.
We look forward to what our God and Jesus will do through Supplying Needs.
A wheel chair lift which will help us pick up heavy donations
Sincerely,
Supplying Needs
We look forward to what our God and Jesus will do through Supplying Needs.
Our New Bus
A wheel chair lift which will help us pick up heavy donations
Sincerely,
Supplying Needs
Monday, April 13, 2009
Summary of Supplying Needs
Supplying Needs is a Christian non-profit organization that has the desire to enable organizations to outreach better to their community. We want to enable groups, organizations, churches, and shelters with food, clothing, office supplies, constructions supplies, furniture, toys, etc. We also want to be an encouragement to those that have a heart for the poor and the hungry in their community.
We look forward to working with anyone and everyone that want to step out and make a difference in their surrounding area.
Sincerely,
Supplying Needs
We look forward to working with anyone and everyone that want to step out and make a difference in their surrounding area.
Sincerely,
Supplying Needs
Founders: The Butlers
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