Small church makes big impact

Tracy McCormick-Dishman
editor@floridanewsline.com

What started as a simple call to action after Sunday service has blossomed into a lifeline for dozens of local families. Mandarin Lutheran Church’s Baby Pantry, serving families with children ages newborn to 3, exemplifies how a small congregation can create meaningful change in their community.

“It started really small,” said Jennifer McInnis, a church member and baby pantry volunteer. “We just kind of opened up, put the word out to the congregation and said, ‘We have a family in need. Anybody who can stop and grab some diapers and wipes, bring them on over.'”

That humble beginning two years ago has grown into a twice-monthly operation serving approximately 40 registered families. Every other Sunday, for two hours after church service, volunteers transform the church into a distribution center, providing diapers, wipes, formula and clothing to an average of 15 families per session.

The operation runs on heart rather than high-tech systems. Paper binders serve as their database, and families provide birth certificates and proof of residency. When language becomes a barrier, volunteers use Spanish interpreters and find ways to communicate with families from Eastern European countries and those who are deaf.

“Everybody who’s involved, from the volunteers to the families themselves, are just people,” McInnis said. “It’s really heartwarming to see the communication efforts between the volunteers and the families.”

Despite having only 60 to 80 active members, the church meets substantial supply needs through congregational donations and a partnership with the Mandarin Food Bank. The relationship was cultivated by Sandy Mitten, known as “Grandma Gunner”—a spirited octogenarian, military veteran and Green Bay Packers fan who became the church’s unofficial ambassador to the food bank.

Mitten’s advocacy created a mutually beneficial relationship where the church contributes food donations and fresh produce from gleaning activities, while the food bank reciprocates by sending baby supplies they can’t use.

“She goes and takes it to the Mandarin food bank and has developed a really nice relationship with them over there,” McInnis said. “When they can, if they have baby related items, they’ll donate items to the baby pantry as well.”

The church’s commitment extends beyond weekly operations. Once annually, they organize a fundraising event for the baby pantry. This year’s event is July 11, featuring trivia competition ($10 per person) and a raffle with gift cards from nearly two dozen businesses.

For McInnis and her fellow volunteers—typically fewer than 10 people running the entire operation—the baby pantry represents their core mission in action.

“We really feel great about it and we hope that it helps them,” she said. “That’s a core piece of the mission here is to serve the community.”

The church demonstrates that community impact isn’t measured by congregation size but by commitment to neighbors, proving that even small groups can create substantial change.

Community members can donate diapers, baby wipes, bath needs, rash cream, ointments and gently used clothing at the church between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The church is located at 11900 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville. For more information, call 904-268-4591 or email office@mandarinlutheran.org.