Food, Glorious Food

I love to eat – and it shows too much! I’ve never really had a time that I haven’t had food. Oh, I get hungry but nothing like so many folks in the world really go through – I always know that there’s another meal coming. Now Kathy and I have been short of money but it seems folks are always glad to make sure you have food. We’ve been blessed with gift boxes of food when we’ve been struggling to make ends meet (I’d be just satisfied if ends would at least be in whispering distance of each other). And it seems that God always places me in a position to help minister with food in one way or another.

I have always believed that people need their physical needs met as well as their spiritual needs – Jesus fed people, healed people, even took care of Peter’s taxes! I got into “food ministry” honestly because I love to eat and cook – not real spiritual I know. It was also something I could do without a lot of thought, or so I used to think.

I head up First Monday Cafe at our church, I’ve helped with the now defunct Angel Food Ministry, I’ve helped with Unseen Hands Ministries monthly food giveaway, I’ve helped unload hundreds of boxes of food for Caring Hands Ministries and I’ve helped with other local food giveaways involving the Georgia Mountain Food Bank and other groups like our church and Waypoint Center. I don’t say any of this to brag but to say that I have a little bit (and I’ll admit it’s not much) of experience here.

In just the last year, I’ve seen a lot of food given out and I have to wonder sometimes, “Are we making a difference?”. It seems the same people are getting fed but I hear from the statistics that the number of people needed food assistance is increasing. And it seems to me that at times the food we give is not really more than “fluff” (and I realize that you work with what you have when your resources are largely donated). It seems there has to a better way of making sure that people don’t go hungry. I wish I knew the answer.

I’m looking into information on alternatives to food banks and food giveaways. I’ve talked to people who like me want to do more but are not really sure how and I’ve talked to those who have ideas but don’t know how to put them into action. My prayer is that somewhere in the middle of all of this, God will give wisdom and insight to help us help others. Until then, we’ll keep doing what we can to help serve the “least of these”.

Be well,