“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.”
~ Luke 4:18
Dear OSC family & friends,
Recent political events have made it painfully clear that our government can remove food assistance at a moment’s notice. A stalled budget, another government shutdown, or a single policy change can instantly leave families without the help they need.
At the same time, food insecurity is rapidly increasing. While SNAP benefits have been restored for now, that assistance has not been enough for many. And with recent changes to eligibility, thousands will soon lose their SNAP benefits altogether. When you couple that with the high cost of living in San Diego County, the need is expected to grow significantly in 2026.
Pantry Manager Victoria McGoldrick at work sorting food donations in our community space.
Jane’s Story
Consider the example of “Jane” (not her real name), who is a Sanctuary Pantry guest. She is a single mother in her 30s with one young son. Jane works as a full time caregiver and makes $18.72 and hour. Even with SNAP benefits, their total food budget equals just $8.33 per person per day. And since her rent in Oceanside for a one bedroom apartment represents about 70% of her income, she struggles to make ends meet. Jane wouldn’t be able to make it without programs like the Sanctuary Pantry.
Unfortunately, food pantries across the country are closing their doors. For people like Jane, pantries have always been the safety net behind the safety net, providing an extra layer of help. But rising costs for staffing, utilities, gasoline, and building expenses have made it harder than ever for local organizations to keep pace with the growing need.
For nine years, the Oceanside Sanctuary Pantry has remained faithfully open – even through the COVID shutdowns – when many others closed or paused operations. Today, we distribute about 8,000 pounds of food each month to families, seniors, and working parents striving to make ends meet. While large food banks typically receive the spotlight, and much of the support, it is often smaller community programs like the Sanctuary Pantry that do the daily work of distributing food directly to local neighborhoods
We do this work because Jesus’s gospel begins as “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). Providing assistance, offering mutual aid, and organizing relief are spiritual practices that tell the story of our faithfulness to that gospel.
All of this is why the Sanctuary Pantry is the focus of our year-end fund drive. Every dollar we raise in this campaign between now and December 31st, will go to support our food pantry operations. Because these threats to food security are real, we are setting an ambitious goal. Our goal this year is to raise $50,000 from OSC members and another $50,000 from friends, neighbors, and businesses in the surrounding community who are not members of OSC.
That means our total goal is to raise $100,000 by December 31st, 2025.
These funds will enable us to meet the needs we encounter in these unpredictable times. It will ensure we can keep our doors open over the next two years, maintain strong connections with our community partners, purchase extra food when needed, and be ready for whatever the next policy shift brings.
But to reach this goal, we need your support. There are three meaningful ways you can help:
Make a year-end gift to our Sanctuary Campaign over and above your regular membership giving. Go to oceansidesanctuary.org/give to make a year-end gift today.
Participate in the “Walk in Jane’s Shoes” challenge on any Saturday in December. Walking in solidarity with people on SNAP, even for one day, helps us understand why this safety net is so essential. The sign up, go to oceansidesanctuary.org/janes-shoes
Share this campaign with your friends, family, and co-workers who are not OSC members. Invite them to make a gift. Consider inviting them to participate in the “Walk in Jane’s Shoes” challenge alongside you. Or, consider hosting a small dinner gathering to introduce them to the work of the Sanctuary Pantry. We will provide you with simple materials and talking points so you can share why this work matters. To get those materials, go to oceansidesanctuary.org/pantry
Thank you for believing in this mission and for standing with us. Together, we can strengthen the safety net beneath the safety net and ensure that our neighbors never face hunger alone.
With gratitude,
Rev. Jenell Coker
Co-Lead Minister, The Oceanside Sanctuary