lighthouse-grab-n-go-groceries

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Lighthouse along with every organization in Region-2000 with food sharing and assistance programs faced disruption in the traditional food supply chain causing challenges to all of us. We’ve all had to develop innovative best practices to continue serving those at risk of hunger while leveraging the skills, labor, or supply chains of struggling restaurants and grocery stores who faithfully gave what they had available.

The Lighthouse tried and tested a new food distribution for its daily hot meals to-go along with grab-n-go fresh groceries. We’ve worked hard at mastering the process and are excited to highlight this meal planning at a new level. We pray it prompts you to think about how you too can share food, provide nourishment and a sense of reassurance in your community! For example, the Wood family showed up and donated 600 eggs for our fresh grocery distribution, and we were so excited to announce, “We have eggs!”

So what does our process look like?

1. Pre-pack each entree in a reusable 8oz or 20oz seal tight and microwave containers.

2. Each container is labeled and dated.

3. Every day, we write a new menu of entrees for selection on a white board.

4. The containers are bagged with plastic cutlery to-go.

5. Leftovers are either given to one of the organizations we share food with or transferred to our grab-and-go fridge for the next day.

6. Benefits: no waste, no cross-contamination, no spillage, food stays air-tight, and can be resealed and saved or eaten later because they are microwaveable-safe containers. Also washable and reusable.