AMC in the News

Thanks to all of you who came on Saturday to celebrate the reopening of the Ambler Community Fridge right outside our church’s main doors! By my count, there were 20 of us there from AMC, joined by probably 40-50 others from the community. It was a beautiful day, and I was overwhelmed by the joy of what we’re able to do together in and beyond the church. The opening was even featured on the front page of the Reporter and got a shout-out from Senator Maria Collett on Facebook.

Thanks to Ellen McCaffrey for coordinating the food. Thanks to Ellen and Sally Martin for going out to request donations of food—which we received in abundance. Thanks to Eden Strunk for first suggesting a community lunch and for providing great questions for conversation around the tables. Thanks to Lena Washington, Doris Kolb, Ellen, and Sally for making dessert. Thanks to Morris Gant for providing quality control for the desserts. Thanks to Randy Martin for working tirelessly on the physical logistics of getting the fridge set up and operable, and also for taking photos on Saturday. Thanks to Vicki Beyer for making a beautiful poster thanking the sponsors who donated food. And thanks to everyone who came early to set up and stayed to clean up.

As a Mennonite pastor, I felt a little out my depth welcoming and introducing the people who came to celebrate with us, including Dave Corrigan, Community Outreach Director for US Representative Madeleine Dean; PA Senator Maria Collett; PA Representative Melissa Cerrato; General Manager Jon Roesser of Weavers Way Co-op; and Ambler Councilwoman Jennifer Henderson. And yet I’m very grateful for their support and for how they’re helping us get out the word about the fridge. We’re hosting the fridge, but we’re not doing this alone.

If you’re able, I encourage you to make a habit of bringing something for the fridge when you come to church on Sunday. A half gallon of milk or anything else you’d want to find in your own fridge. Even a single serving homemade meal if you make extra (just be sure to label it with the date and ingredients). People out in the world talk about community fridges using words like “mutual aid.” Isn’t that just perfect for a Mennonite church?

Grace, peace, and love to each of you today,
Pastor Michelle