We distributed 1,092 boxes of food

Yesterday, in God’s kindness, our staff and several volunteers were able to distribute over 1,000 boxes of food to the people of St. Paul. 

Before I share more about the day, let me back up and explain how we got into this whole thing. Farmers to Families is a USDA program that started back in March. As the country shutdown and restaurants were no longer buying food, there was a surplus throughout the farms of America, and many were having to destroy crops. The USDA stepped in with the idea to purchase the food and connect with non-profits and faith-based organizations to distribute locally. As it turns out, a pastor in Tulsa, part of the Send Network, was able to catch wind of the program early on and he ended up connecting the USDA with thousands of churches across the country. Including ours. The invitation was simple: “I can have a semi-truck bring 16.38 tons of food to your city, for you to distribute. Do you want it?”

I said yes, not really knowing what I had gotten us into. 

But our staff is awesome, and our church is awesome, and God is more awesome, and so, praying, we went for it.

Kraus-Anderson Construction, which owns the shopping center, generously let us use the Wal Mart parking off University Avenue, and they even sent a few volunteers to help distribute! Being close to the light rail and bus stop, and late in the afternoon, we were next to the highest traffic intersection in the Twin Cities. Commander Kent Cleveland of the St. Paul police, West district, was gracious to review our traffic flow idea and offer suggestions. Kern Lawn Service volunteered to bring over their forklift and unload the truck. Tom Viehauser brought the pallet jack to help us move the freight. Within 30 minutes we unloaded 1,092 boxes of food into three stations. 

Though we had promoted the distribution starting at 4:00pm, people were dropping by almost immediately, and we started loading cars.

Volunteers continued to arrive and we made signs to canvas the area. People came and then told friends who came. Some people took several boxes to give away to their communities and apartment complexes. A few volunteers took boxes to distribute to different homeless camps in the area. Other volunteers took boxes home for neighbors. The traffic never jammed, but it was steady, and there was just one box left by 7:30pm. 

And as I was packing up a few remnants, a final six cars lined up. I rationed out cottage cheese until I had to tell the last cars that we were out ... of everything.

From 1,092 boxes to 0. Which is what I had prayed. 

So what? What is ultimately enduring about giving away free food, which, within a few days will be gone?

First, this distribution was a tangible way to seek the good of our Twin Cities. Very tangible. Real people now have real food to really eat because we gave it to them, and that is a good thing.  

But we know that food is mainly a metaphor for Jesus. Food exists for our physical nourishment, which is temporal, in order to give us categories for the provision of Jesus for our souls, which is eternal. Jesus said, 

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall never hunger, and who believes in me shall never thirst. … This is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:35, 40)

The common refrain I heard all afternoon was “Jesus bless you!” And we meant it. We want people to be satisfied with the Bread of Life, and distributing 1,092 boxes of dairy, produce, and meat was toward that great end.

Several people asked if we’d be back to do something like this again. 

I said yes.