While most people are hitting the treadmills to work off holiday excess, others in our state are struggling to keep their stomachs full.
Last year marked the 25th year for the World Hunger Relief fund, an account designated specifically for churches and associations who are actively meeting the needs of those in their communities who do not have enough to eat. It is estimated that every 3.2 seconds someone dies of hunger and though numbers and statistics can be staggering at times, many churches across the state are taking seriously Jesus’ challenge to feed the hungry.
First Baptist Church Bluffton opened the door of their church closet, literally transforming what started a few shelves in the church’s kitchen into a new food panty appropriately named “The Shepherd’s Closet.” Though the tiny town of Bluffton sits in the light of the affluent Hilton Head Island, the church saw the food supply in their tiny church closet dwindle much too quickly each month.
When the food would run out and people in the community would still be in need of assistance, church member Martha Davenport was troubled.
“We needed more food and it would bother me when we couldn’t get more,” said Davenport now volunteers at First Baptist Bluffton to run Shepherd’s Closet.
While on a visit with family members, Davenport learned of a church sponsored food bank in the area and thought the idea could work in Bluffton. Shepherd’s Closest opened its doors in April 2003.
Staffed by thirty volunteers from the church, Shepherd’s Closet provides food for individuals and families who qualify for food stamps through the local Department of Social Services office. The food bank is open on Saturdays for “shopping day” where qualified individuals can receive necessary groceries at no cost. USDA food is provided by the Lowcountry Food Bank as well as The Fresh Market grocery store, Second Helpings and private donations. Shepherd’s Closet also operates an emergency food pantry during the week for individuals with immediate needs. Volunteers staff the food bank, deliver food and pick up donations. Other church members enclosed a carport enlarge the building and church staff include a page of prayer requests just from the ministry in the weekly Wednesday night prayer meeting.
Shepherd’s Closet distributed 14.4 tons of food to 162 families in 2004.
Shepherd’s Closet hopes to eventually expand their ministries to include a Christian Women’s Job Corp to assist women in resume writing, job searches and interview skills.
“It is totally the Lord. He has blessed us so much. We had such small dreams, but God has just grown us. It is very exciting,” said Davenport.
For more information on the World Hunger Relief Fund, contact the Mission Mobilization office at (803) 765-0030 or 1-800-723-7242 or www.scbaptist.org.
