Today at the food bank, we gave out a lot of food to a lot of families. People were already lined up in front of the building and waiting at 3:00 even though we don’t open until 4:00. Some individuals come early to get a number because they want to be first in line and first to come in the door. At times there are disagreements as to “who’s on first.” The arguments seem foolish, but they indicate to me how important the weekly food is to the families. This is their world.

Some people come early because they don’t have any place else to go and have nothing to do on Wednesdays. Some come for the company so they can chit chat with others. I have no idea about their conversations, but almost everyone knows everyone else. It is a small town and the food bank community is a social group unto itself.

I also come an hour early and greet those waiting in their cars. I answer someone’s inevitable question, “Are you open?” “When are you giving out the numbers?” Not, not yet.   Soon.

Elk Creek is in charge for May. Lynn and Lewis  have everything well organized . Volunteers   fill the shelves and put away donations.   Fresh produce, packages of bread, vegetables,  bottles of juice and water line the long table in the middle of the room. There is some fruit and always a box of bananas from the grocery store. The atmosphere before we open is calm and filled with friendly chatter.

We gather to pray before we call in the first group of clients. We bless those who are waiting and those who will be serving. We thank God for His amazing abundance once again and ask Him to guide us for the next two hours. I personally pray for more compassion and a sense of humor because I need lots of both in this ministry.

The clients come in and the volunteers work with them. I overhear small bits of conversations. “Hello. I’m Lewis. What’s your name?” Mothers ask for diapers. Food flies out the door as it does every week. Tonight there are only four new clients, but so far this month there have been a dozen more. A young man tells me he’s moved here from Ontario to get away from gangs and drugs. He seems anxious to work and says he’s pretty skilled with his hands. He has six month old twins but so far no job prospects. Then there’s the young girl, heartbreakingly frail   with a baby in a carriage. She can’t be more than 17 and has walked over two miles to get food. A client offers to drive her back home.

On my way home I wondered at this work we’re called to. I know the work is not just about food. Tonight I saw that  the Holy Spirit was very present in the work.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Elk Creek Church volunteers were most faithful to help and were filled with the joy of serving. Instead of chaos there was a sense of peace and well being both inside and outside the building. Those waiting a long time to be served exhibited great patience and self control with one another – and we with them. Was it not kindness and gentleness for the woman to take the young girl back home so she wouldn’t have to walk? Above all, is it not God’s vast, inexhaustible love for us which moves our hearts to love the poor. The proof lies in the Spirit’s   living fruit in those  who were present. From that, surely today I received so much more than I gave.

EAG