Bridge Church Feeds the Hungry
“Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those throughout the world who live and die in poverty or hunger.”
Mother Teresa
The one who is gracious to feed the poor lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his good deed.
Proverbs 19:17
The Food Pantry of Bridge Church
According to the Census Bureau, more than 42 million people in the United States suffer from hunger, and nearly 1 in 7 Americans still goes to bed hungry each night. Ten million of those are children.
In Fresno County, approximately 21% of the population is living in poverty; and further, with a 27% child poverty rate. This means that many individuals, including children, are experiencing food insecurity.
Back in 2011, Bridge Church recognized this issue and decided to act. Two couples, including Rich and Carolyn Klassen, began collecting food donations from the congregation. Food was then packed into individual boxes to donate to anyone who came to the church asking for help. This system worked for a few years, but they ultimately aspired to be able to serve more people in our local community. The food pantry ministry grew in both the number of serving volunteers and in the quantity of distributed food.
In 2017, Jan Lawson began volunteering with the food pantry ministry. She had recently lost her mother, was participating in Bridge Church’s Grief Share ministry and was looking for a home church for a way to fill the void. She loved working with her fellow Food Pantry volunteers as well as the recipients of their work. In 2018 Jan stepped up as volunteer leader for the Food Pantry ministry and took over all operational aspects needed for the ministry to thrive. "I had such a sense of satisfaction after each distribution," she said.
Today our Food Pantry ministry is amazing to see in action. With Jamie Perillo and Pam Gabbert working with Jan, along with an entire team of dedicated and passionate volunteers, they’ve grown and organized a food pantry distribution system which runs like a well-oiled machine. The ministry has one goal: to spread God's love and help the less fortunate. As Jamie said, "We do it for Jesus."
They began reaching out to local food chains to get donations.
The Preparation
Distribution day is the first and third Wednesday morning of each month. However, the preparation is a continuous effort by many volunteers. Bridge Church purchases food from the local Food Bank, which delivers their orders to the church. These are the staples and miscellaneous items that Jan has ordered. Twice a week volunteers gather here with vehicles able to transport the donations from the local grocery stores. These donations include meat, dairy products, and bakery goods. Once they return to the church, the volunteers unload and begin sorting the food. They take inventory of what they have and begin the bagging process. Each family will receive a bag from each category. This meticulous process takes all morning, and once complete, the volunteer team is tired but also excited and ready for distribution day.
The Big Day: Feed The Masses
The crowd begins gathering as early as 4am, even though food distribution doesn’t begin until 9am. By 7am, the volunteer team is bagging the meat, dairy and setting up their stations. At about 9am Dave Cowin leads the crowd in prayer and subsequently connects individually with each participant while they are waiting in line.
The distribution starts with participants meeting with Jan at her check in station. First-timers register with Jamie by answering a few questions and showing their ID. Once signed in, they move to each station to get their bags of food. Each household receives four bags from the volunteers. Happiness is palpable. Smiles abound and everyone is in a great mood. They receive enough food for their families, neighbors, and friends. It is a joyous occasion with smiles and hugs exchanged between volunteers and recipients. Everyone is grateful for this day, for many different reasons.
The Volunteers and the Recipients
Recipients express appreciation for the food provided for their families and neighbors. Volunteers value the chance to serve the community and God. The sense of community and devotion are evident during these distribution days. The volunteers who serve this food pantry unanimously say, "I feel great when I see the smiles and gratitude of the recipients." They serve the Lord by aiding those in need, and their joy is evident in every face they meet." Recipients frequently express “thank you for seeing me.”
“Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2
How you can help
Our Food Pantry has been consistently serving +/-125 families each distribution day. On an annual basis well over 55,000 pounds of food is distributed. Most of this food is purchased by Bridge Church from the local Food Bank. You can help us further our kingdom impact through your generosity in giving to our general fund. A portion of each $1 you give goes directly to support the work of Bridge Outreach ministries and our supported partners.
