The FISH program originated about 60 years ago in England by members of the Anglican church who wanted to "feed the hungry" to better live out the Matthew 25 parable. Soon after, the program crossed the Atlantic into the New England states. The organization reached the East Liverpool, OH area by the late 1960's. Aloysius parish introduced it and explained its workings to volunteers of the Chester-
Newell area in 1972. The Chester-Newell FISH agency has been operation for about 44 years. Chester-Newell FISH works out of the basement of Sacred Heart Center, Indiana Ave, Chester, WV. FISH provides quality food baskets to families and individuals in need in the Chester-Newell-New Manchester area of Hancock County, WV. Chester-Newell FISH operates on Saturdays. We are open from 10-10:30 AM Saturday mornings to distribute food parcels. We ask that clients call during the week to pre-register (330-385-0445) in order to have food baskets ready to distribute. In addition to food baskets, we also provide gift certificates from an area grocery store so that clients can pick up milk, bread, or perishables not easily provided by our pantry. Chester-Newell FISH serves about 25 families per week (100 per month). These totals can rise to 150 families per month during the months of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. The average size of the families served is approximately 3.5 individuals per family. This totals to nearly 4800 individuals per year, which includes those clients being helped multiple times per year. Donations - If you or your organization would like to donate food to Chester-Newell FISH you may drop off your donations during our Saturday distribution time (10-10:30 Saturday mornings). We except any nonperishable, intact, unexpired food or toiletries. Some examples of possible donations include: cereal, canned vegetables, canned fruit, boxed mashed potatoes, pasta, pasta sauce, canned tuna, peanut butter, baby goods and hygiene items. Financial donations - Financial donations are an important part of our organization. When funds are available, we give small gift cards from a local grocery store so that our clients can purchase perishable goods. This adds up to $10,000 - $12,000 a year in gift cards. Additionally, FISH estimates a total of $30,000 a year in groceries purchased and donated. Volunteering - Active FISH volunteers number about 25. Chester-Newell FISH associates include those who support FISH at the church, school, business and individual levels. If you would like to join us, leave us a fb message and we will be happy to have your help! "Matthew 25:31-46
The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
