For I was Hungry, and You Gave Me Food

So sometimes something happens that if I don’t share I feel like it is just gonna explode out of me.  This is one of those things. 

A year ago this summer, a young family came to use the food pantry. For some reason, throughout the year, I have randomly found myself praying for them. This summer one of their neighbors stopped into use the pantry and asked me again to pray for them out of their concern. Yesterday the woman came into use the pantry for the first time in a year. She was now separated because he had broken her bone. I prayed for her and talked to her, and made sure she was familiar with all the other resources in the community. She shared that in the separation she had lost her transportation. She asked about stuff to get her and her son involved, and we hooked them up with what the church had to offer. She ended her visit by offering me and the secretary a hug. 

 I glanced out the window to see how she had gotten here and there was another neighbor who had needed to use the pantry as well. This neighbor did not have lots of material resources to help, but knew the church was a resource that could be offered. As I helped the woman take the groceries out to her ride, the neighbor asked about youth group for this woman’s son. 

When I got back in the office I called a food pantry recipient who had stopped in earlier in the week offering to bring in some garden produce to be given away. The secretary said she would take it even though it meant calling up those who used the pantry to make sure it all was picked up before any of it went bad. The recipient hadn’t brought it in yet, and I asked if she was willing to take it over to her neighbor rather than bring it in to us. She said she would do it tomorrow. 

 

So why am I sharing this whole story? Because a week ago I heard that “somebody” heard that the food pantry was being misused so they stopped giving to it. This last month we have had a lot of families coming through, more than usual, and our shelves and account are feeling that crunch. We sometimes hear feedback about people concerned that the pantry is not making disciples.

I share this story so that you can see what I see. In the last year I can think of at least 3 families rebuilding their life after domestic abuse that have found hope through the pantry, 2 of which were in the last month.  It is used by neighbors to love their neighbor and show compassion when they are barely making it themselves. It is used as hub for resources to be shared, and I’m not just talking about food either.  Three neighbors were able to love this woman through the connection of the food pantry. And this story is typical.  These families were able to follow Christ’s example of  loving your neighbor through this community tool!

 

So today is my day off and I went grocery shopping this morning.  And I bought double of those simple things that just cost $1 but can be combined to make a meal. I bought a bag worth for the freezer and a bag worth for the shelves. And I just want to invite you to do the same. Because God is using food as a tool to share hope, to make disciples, and connect our community.