Neighborhood Impact-Church based

[AmandaLW]

Does anyone use Neighborhood Impact to offer food in their church? The reason I ask is because I was of the understanding that this program was to provide free food for others while offering the chance to demonstrate Christian love for others.
So here’s my dilemmas after having volunteered for this program at my church:
1. Is it Christian for the people volunteering with the setup and offloading of the food to each take a grocery bag of food for themselves before offering the food to the people they are serving?
2. Does it show Christian love sufficiently when every person who shows up to get free food for themselves has to be escorted around to each table by an attendant to make sure they don’t take more than their share?
3. In the same regard, does it show Christian love for every person who needs to use the restaurant to have to be escorted there and back so the staff makes sure that they don’t steal anything?
4. And lastly, Is offering food like milk, salads, soups, lunch meats, ect that isn’t refrigerated for 3.5 hours to people in need better than doing nothing at all?

I understand the need to protect yourself or the churches assets but do these above things fall into the category of doing things for others but not fully in love?

 

[Billyd]

Our church association has a ministry center that provides food, clothing and financial support (keep utilities on) to those who are in need. Churches in the association provide financial support to the ministry center. Most of the food and clothing is provided by donation. Most clothing is used. Food is can goods, rice, noodles and beans. It is distributed through a thrift shop. Prices are based on ability to pay and range from $0 up. It is staffed by volunteers.

 

[Seeker47]

Does anyone use Neighborhood Impact to offer food in their church? The reason I ask is because I was of the understanding that this program was to provide free food for others while offering the chance to demonstrate Christian love for others.
So here’s my dilemmas after having volunteered for this program at my church:
1. Is it Christian for the people volunteering with the setup and offloading of the food to each take a grocery bag of food for themselves before offering the food to the people they are serving?
2. Does it show Christian love sufficiently when every person who shows up to get free food for themselves has to be escorted around to each table by an attendant to make sure they don’t take more than their share?
3. In the same regard, does it show Christian love for every person who needs to use the restaurant to have to be escorted there and back so the staff makes sure that they don’t steal anything?
4. And lastly, Is offering food like milk, salads, soups, lunch meats, ect that isn’t refrigerated for 3.5 hours to people in need better than doing nothing at all?

I understand the need to protect yourself or the churches assets but do these above things fall into the category of doing things for others but not fully in love?

It is not unchristian for the church to protect itself. That said, if the food has been donated to feed the needy, the church members should not be taking any for themselves unless they too are needy. Failing to meet basic food safety rules is foolish and dangerous.

 

[BetterCallPsalms]

As long as the goods aren't spoiled I don't see any issue?

 

[Lanolin]

mm I think its ok as long as the food isn't spoiled, and the church don't want the food to go to waste, plus if you volunteer you do the work so you should be able to take leftovers or a portion for yourself if you need some.
Not sure about the escorting thing but its more of an ushering thing so people know where to go, and so there's enough for everyone. I mean obvs they don't want people stealing but that applies to everyone.

There should be plenty for everyone but you don't know how many will turn up so ??

My issue is are the dishes etc washed properly and are there enough condiments, napkins etc. And is the food fresh and hot. Don't do a dinner for everyone if you can't do basic hygiene.

 

[Lanolin]

I mean you could do paper plates and disposables but also think of the waste, as long as it's not plastic, I think that's fine. Someone will have to do dishes anyway. Hopefully you have a team and it's not all on one person.

 

[Lanolin]

Here we have foodbanks etc but there's also neighbourhood food pantries called pataka and people just leave food, clothing etc in little shelters free for anybody to help themselves.

I don't have one near me but I did help with book swaps - we had fridge libraries, sort of like little free libraries but with old fridges as the storage/shelves rather than you make little book boxes yourself. They'd be painted up and have a swap system. I think mostly self sufficient but someone had to look after it, make sure books didn't get wet, remove the mouldy, torn, junky books, and stock them up occasionally. Unfortunately sometimes they got vandalised or people would just dump rubbish by the fridge, so that's why some get removed.

It's just a way to share books, I mean anyone can open one and browse and take whatever they want, and if the bring it back ok or bring another book its fine. I very much doubt people would be taking whole piles of books and trying to sell them.

If it's too much of a hassle and you don't like doing admin or organisation of it why not just donate to a foodbank/basket at your church or leave donations in your supermarket, some supermarkets have a trolley/bin of donated food they redistribute. Every bit helps.