Feed the Red Bins
As we all come out of our “Covid fog” and isolation, we are returning to our previous lives, though they have changed for many. Help from SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) ended for millions of Americans this March. Now some 77,000 Mecklenburg County residents find themselves close to a hunger cliff. Most of them are seniors, children, or people who are employed. Living paycheck to paycheck forces stark choices. Current inflation only adds more stress. Loaves & Fishes, Mecklenburg County’s largest food pantry, is seeing its greatest rise in the need for food assistance in its almost 50 years of existence.
What are we called to do as people of God? We have many biblical references to the poor and hunger. Matthew 25:31-40 gives clear guidance: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Crisis after crisis has desensitized us to the needs around us. We are people of love, as Presiding Bishop Curry reminds us. St. Peter’s has a long history of ministry in feeding our neighbors as community outreach. Our Soup Kitchen started in 1979, and gave rise to Roof Above, formerly the Urban Ministry Center. We now must make reducing food insecurity and hunger a renewed priority.
We can do this! Bring food to church on Sundays (or anytime). Priority needs are: canned meat, canned fruit (low sugar), pasta, peanut butter, canned vegetables (low sodium)—and also diapers (large size).
Feeding others is a communion, one of our faith covenants, and the living word of Christ in action. When you come to the altar to be fed by the body of Christ, think of feeding others. It’s easy to do, and a wonderful way to teach our children about love and stewardship. Let’s all feed the big red bins! They are located in the Parish House Lobby and the Narthex. The Outreach Committee believes this can be the first step of many that will be needed to help our neighbors, our city, and world.
Lynn Lakin
