More Than Their Hunger
I was walking through the neighborhood last week with my daughter Evangeline on our way to a little play date with Eric and Heather’s girls. When we turned the first corner on our way to their house, we came upon a neighbor who was visibly upset and looked as if she had spent the whole morning in tears. We walked up and, giving a hug, asked what was wrong and was there anything we could do to help. She proceeded to describe to me the situation she and her family found themselves in.
Let me relate it to you in a nutshell.
Our neighbor’s long-time boyfriend of 15+ years had lost his job in 2008 during the economic downturn and is still out of work. He is receiving only a meager unemployment stipend. Her son could find only minimal part-time work and was able to help out with family needs only enough to scratch the surface of the bills, mortgage, etc, that were piling up. His girlfriend had moved in with them a number of months back in order to escape a very difficult family situation and just recently her sister had moved in and joined them for the same reason. Both of these girls are out of work and unable to find anything of financial consequence to add to the household. Our friend found herself the only one in a family of five that was able to find work in order to provide for her family and extended household. She was utterly overwhelmed, feeling helpless, hopeless, worthless, and alone.
I began talking to her about the Fair Haven Food Pantry, and asked her if she would be interested in receiving food. Immediately she started talking about her one experience with another food pantry in the neighborhood. It was so embarrassing, she said. I had to stand in line with all these people I didn’t know, getting food from people I didn’t know, and I just felt so worthless standing there. Then I got home and I had to throw all the food out! The bread was moldy, the food was old and nasty, some half opened, all of it unappetizing.
It was then that I realized how unique the mission and vision of Fair Haven Food Pantry really is.
Our friend’s story had a couple of key elements, which I would like to highlight for us. First of all, there can be a very real dehumanizing effect to charity, depending on the way that it is done. Not to diminish the work of the food pantry that our friend had gone to – but it seems to me that the relational aspect of the Gospel was missing in their charity work; the part of the Gospel that imparts worth and value to the recipient instead of degrading them. The part of charity that says, you are a child of the living God, and this is His tangible love for you. Second, I saw that the food pantry was serving food that the givers themselves probably would not want to eat. Again, Christ says to His children, Bring out the best wine, and the best my table has to offer.
Compassion Corps is striving to create a new kind of food pantry.
One that not only seeks to meet the physical needs of those we serve, but a food pantry that realizes that the food we give is only a doorway into much greater opportunities to serve, to love, and to speak hope and value to those that live in Fair Haven. We are a relational, delivery based food pantry that is committed to providing food AT THE TIME OF NEED. There is no standing in lines and there are no strangers. And most important, on our end, there is an understanding that those we help are more than their hunger – our desire is to impart to each individual a greater understanding of their intrinsic worth as people, as friends, and as children of a loving God. This message is just as important as the food that we distribute.
Help us to provide quality, staple food products and other high value items to those in need. Visit us at www.compassioncorsponline.com and find out how you can host a food drive in your neighborhood.