Disciple: Feeding Body and Soul
Efforts toward one lead to the nourishment of the other
By Christine McTaggart
There are countless quotes from every age and time about the impact a small thing or action can have:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh
“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
Whether discussing faith, kindness, politics or change, they all agree very little starts on a grand scale, but rather with single, small steps that eventually add up to a collective significance.
“Starting small” seems a natural solution when it comes to outreach and ministry, yet many don’t take these first steps. They are stopped in their tracks even before they begin; some are daunted by a lack of resources, whether it be people or money, while others are overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem they are trying to address.
But two churches in the Diocese of North Carolina have proven that neither size nor depth of resources are a hindrance when it comes to responding to need or making a difference. Indeed, in both cases, attempts to address an issue of food insecurity started with small steps that even today continue to add up and grow.
BLESSED BE THE CHILD
At Church of the Ascension, Advance, it began with a child.
Sidnee Everhart was a student at Cornazter Elementary School when she and her mother, Cori, noticed some children had a need for food on weekends. They’d heard of others addressing this need through a local program whereby children received backpacks of food to take home over the weekend, and the Everharts approached the Rev. Kermit Bailey, deacon at Ascension, to ask whether the church could take part in this program, too. Bailey agreed, and, though their numbers don’t total even one hundred, parishioners began to bring in food and other necessities for the packs. Backpacks were filled again and again as closets and pantries were commandeered to handle the overflow.
The donations grew. Bailey established partnerships with other local clergy and, eventually, the Second Harvest Food Bank in Winston-Salem. What started as a child’s request to help classmates quickly grew to become Our Daily Bread, a cornerstone food source for hundreds of people in Davie County.
OUR DAILY BREAD
Located on the first floor of Ascension’s parish house, Our Daily Bread’s six refrigeration units and multiple shelves are stocked with food purchased from Second Harvest. Those in need of its bounty often turn up hours before the pantry opens and are greeted by hospitality ministers, one of the dozen or so volunteers from Ascension and neighboring churches who keep the pantry going. Coffee and meals are served, but, more importantly, it is here the opportunity to build relationships finds purchase.
“Our Daily Bread is not just outreach; it’s our mission,” says the Rev. Chantal McKinney, vicar of Ascension. “We don’t want just to give and have those in need receive. Our desire is to be in relationship with them. And it is a relationship; they bless us as much as we try to bless them.”
Along with an open welcome, the mission also places a strong focus and emphasis on dignity. With a mix of cultural backgrounds amongst visitors, all signage is bilingual to increase comfort and ease of communication. Food is not simply given to visitors; instead each is given a box and sent to shop the pantry and make selections based on individual need and preference. Because of the relationships that have developed over the years, the food stocked in the pantry is based on what’s most likely to be needed; that coupled with the shopping approach means a great deal less is wasted.
And the assistance does not stop there. If the resources of the pantry aren’t enough, Our Daily Bread volunteers also assist shoppers get set up with food stamp support. Though its services are targeted to residents of Davie County, Our Daily Bread’s policy is to turn away no one in need. And before they go, each and every person who visits is invited to return and worship with the parishioners of Ascension.
“Everything we do is for God’s glory,” says McKinney. “The building of relationships, the opportunity for service and mission – truly every aspect of what we do and how we do it.”
Today, the mission continues to grow. It now assists between 500 and 600 people every month, while never forgetting its roots: program volunteers still pack more than 180 backpacks each week. And the girl who started it all? Sidnee Everhart is still there; she’s now dedicating her Gold Scout Project to expanding the pantry.
MARKET DAY
DiscOn the other side of the diocese, on the corner of Reid and East Nash Streets, the congregations of St. Mark’s and Iglesia de la Guadalupana, Wilson, can also be found feeding the local flocks. On the first Tuesday of every month, rain or shine, church volunteers arrive on site at 5 a.m. to meet those gathering to await the arrival of the food truck from the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Those in line are greeted by the volunteers and offered hospitality. Prayers are often heard in both English and Spanish.
When the truck arrives at 9 a.m., the volunteers unload its treasures onto temporary tables, creating an open-air market for the day. Soon after, a mix of folk reflective of the surrounding neighborhood begins selecting the goods that will see them and their families through the coming days. Between 120 and 150 families are served each month.
ANSWERING THE DOOR
The roots of St. Mark’s food program grew out of a repeated knock at the door. “Folks would show up looking for assistance,” remembers the Rev. Phil Byrum, vicar of both St. Mark’s and la Guadalupana. “So we started looking at ways we could help with that need. We didn’t have a lot of resources, so someone suggested calling the Food Bank, and a partnership was born.”
More than a decade later, it continues to grow and enrich those involved. Though only about a dozen volunteers from the church keep the program going, “a community has really sprung out of it, both in and outside of the church,” says Byrum. “You see how many bridges get built – folks who don’t speak the same language come together and find a way to communicate and help each other out.”
With their raised awareness, neighbors cross those bridges as well, often bringing food unsolicited to add to whatever might be in the kitchen to help those who may need a hand between food truck visits.
“It’s touching to see it happen,” says Byrum. “Folks who struggle are giving to others. They find they are needed, and they give of themselves.”
The kindness is spreading. Following St. Mark’s example, new food assistance sites have been started by other area churches, including a nearby permanent facility.
“The little things add up,” says Byrum. “Small kindnesses, mindfulness of dignity, remembering what folks might be going through – when you reach out, you never know what direction things will take.”
START SMALL
These two churches are indisputable examples of the power that lies within small, be it in terms of size, resources, abilities or dreams. In the cases of both Ascension and St. Mark’s, parishioners number less than one hundred, and only about a dozen of those folk form the core group of volunteers. Yet because of those few, hundreds are helped every month.
“Don’t try and reinvent the wheel,” advises Byrum. “Look around at resources that may already be available, utilize what they have to offer and adapt them as you need to.”
“[Just] start with a genuine desire to serve others and be in Christ with them,” adds McKinney. “Open your heart to the relationship. If the right intentions are there, it will blossom.”
Christine McTaggart is the communications director for the Diocese of North Carolina. Contact her.
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