Feeding the Homeless
North Hills Church – Compassion Ministry
“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty. “
~ Mother Teresa
As a Chef, I spend much of my time pondering and thinking creatively about food. How food grows, what
it smells like, how to pair it with the perfect wine. What is in season, will it photograph well, is it organic, is it processed, is it free range, grass fed? It begins with the food, but ultimately cooking is an act of respect and love. I have a deep respect for the food, for it’s purpose to generate and sustain life. Through careful thought and mindful preparation, I express love to those I cook for. I know that cooking for them matters in nourishing their bodies and comforting their souls – feeding people matters … Never does this become more of a reality than when I feed the homeless.
I have the pleasure of serving alongside the people of North Hills Church in Brea at a local Lutheran Church. It is a family decision, the five of us including seven year old Mikey. We arrive early and quickly begin making lemonade, cutting desserts, and setting the tables with flowers. We allow Mikey to write the menu and always have a job for his busy little hands. He enjoys serving dessert next to his sister. He passes out the desserts all the while hoping there will a piece left for him at the end of the evening.
The guests wait patiently for dinner to be served, and then one by one, they slowly move through the line. There you stand, face to face, serving food to people who don’t care about whether it is “sustainable”, “organic or locally grown”; they don’t care to know what restaurants I’ve cooked in… all that matters is that they are hungry and we are there to feed them … and that they matter … and that someone cares.
If you are interested in participating please contact me or you can contact North Hills Church directly through the above link.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’”Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine,even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
~ Matthew 25
