“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’...
... ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’
Matthew 25:34-36, 40
The news spreading today was no surprise. Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also known as the Stimulus) was enacted, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ('SNAP' /food stamps) has received additional federal dollars to distribute to those in need. These additional monies ended as of October 31, 2013. The net result is a decrease in the amount received each month to be used for food. Again, this was the original law; the federal government and the states have seen it coming for a long time.
What was not seen, nor expected, was the content of a letter mailed to South Carolina SNAP recipients. According to a source connected with a local food pantry, those receiving food assistance through SC were encouraged to go to their local food pantry to help with the decrease in funds. The problem? No one bothered to give the food pantries a 'heads up' that they will likely see a marked increase effective immediately.
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| Food Pantry Shortage February 2009 |
on the faith side of things rather than the political. My concern is that our churches, soup kitchens, and local feeding ministries may not have the resources to handle the foreseeable surge in need within their communities. I will not get 'preachy' today. I will simply refer us to Jesus call to feed the hungry. It is part of our call as disciples of Christ.
What should we do?
1. Plan food drives in your local congregations - Have them spaced throughout the year in order to continuously stock the shelves. Have groups within the church "compete" to see who can give the most. Always buy at least one can extra to donate every time you buy something for yourself.
2. Glean - Connect with an organization that is saving food that would otherwise be wasted. The Society of Saint Andrew is a great example of one such organization in the southern US. Full disclosure: my wife, Ashley, serves as the Program Coordinator for South Carolina (if you would like to help you can email her).
3. Volunteer - With increased demand will come increased numbers of people seeking help. Every local pantry will need additional support of people like you and me to collect, sort, and distribute food.
4. Tell others - People need to know that there is a need that is likely to grow. I believe that most of us are generous and, shown the opportunity, will give to help others. Even those who complain loudest about "government intervention" in this area seem to agree that the private sector should meet the needs of the hungry. Here is their chance to do something to make a difference
Let us join together as we seek to show the love of Christ to our brothers and sisters!
Grace and Peace,
