Every Friday, local people in City Heights, start lining up for food at our Community Center, around 5:00 am. Distribution doesn’t start until 12:00.

There is plenty of food. Always is. A matter of fact, we have enough for about 250-300 families every week.  Lines are a way of life in City Heights, for many of it’s residents. A lot of them have been doing this for years. Why?

One huge reason is fear

Many who were refugees and had been hungry for years in camps, know what it is to be hungry, and never want to feel that again. Many are seniors who are on limited income and have to choose between paying a phone bill or buying food. Many are disabled and can’t get to grocery stores in the area, because there really aren’t any, and they too are on a very limited income, dependent on what we provide that day. Many are struggling single moms, or families who would of never thought they would be on this side of a food line. No matter the case, fear of lack, and the reality of what that feels like, brings them to us.

Our distribution is not just about food though.  It is something much more.

Perfect love casts out fear. God is love. As a child of God ,we learn that He loves us so much, how could we fear that we would not be provided for?

That is what we seek to give away, with those who come through our lines.  LOVE!

Jesus said that He is the living water. Those who drink will never thirst again.  We know that the food is important. That is why we do what we do. But He is the food, and the drink, that brings life, freedom and peace.

As I was sitting, passing out apples, a lady we see each week came running to me, from across the driveway. She had  a huge smile on her face and was laughing with joy.  She fell to her knees, at my feet and hugged me. It was if I was a distant relative she was longing to see again.  I was a little uncomfortable, but then realized what was happening; we show her love and she feels she is special to us. She is important!! She is one of God’s children. When we see her, we love her, accept her, treat her as our special guest, give her a hug, smile and ask her how she is doing.

She is starving for love.

It is a radical thing to think, that our brief encounters with the people God brings before us, can bring so much life!!. This woman has no problem showing her great need and the fact that she is desperate to feel apart of someone’s heart. How many go unnoticed?

Stop for the one.  Wherever you live, serve, shop, or play, love the one in front of you.

Let God love through you, that they might know Him.