Christmas at the Food Pantry

Once a month our church sponsors a food pantry.  With Christmas upon us in an area that has been hit hard during this recession, many people are in need.  Our pantry does the best it can to serve the local area. 

Last month, for Thanksgiving, we served over 450 families. It is a good feeling to feel like you are helping those in need.  Sadly, there seems to be so many in need.  Some of the stories you hear are heartbreaking.  Homes lost, jobs lost, no jobs opening up, unemployment running out, no money to buy any Christmas gifts for their children... these are the most common tales.

I've worked at the church's food pantry for five years and I've never seen the number of new faces as I do now.  There are just so many that have been hurt by the economy now that weren't in the past.  Personally, I believe that if you want to know the state of the economy, talk to these folks.  They aren't seeing jobs in this area coming available.

These are the working class.  They want to work.  They will work hard.  They want to provide for their children.  They don't want to live off food stamps, welfare, unemployment, or food pantries.  They get enraged when they hear some know-it-all on TV say they were living way beyond their means and it is their fault.  Most don't live beyond their means... they just have a lot less means than others.  And for most their means have changed.  Their jobs moved to Mexico or just simply shut down or cut back.  Permanent Layoff Status is the name that sounds a lot nicer than it actually is to live.

I was told that the county we live in is one poorest in the state and even the nation.  The evidence can be seen by walking around the block.  Homes sit empty on every block.  These are not fancy, new, over-done homes that people bought to "keep up with the Joneses".  These are older homes in a quiet town that people bought so they would have a place to raise their families and grow old in.  These homes were not out of their price ranges.  Most of the people didn't, as the know-it-alls on TV seem to sarcastically say, buy more home than they could afford.

Their jobs closed.

I love volunteering at the food pantry.  I feel that our church is able to reach the community and serve Jesus in this way with more than just words.  However, I also get a little angry.  When a person is behind on their vehicle payments, out of work, and just in desperate need of a break;  there is no help.  Over and over I hear that the banks are telling people that they can't do anything.  Vehicles, often the only one that some families have, are being repossessed.  What happens next is that these vehicles are sold for next to nothing at auction and the balance of the loan is still owed.  So, when these people do find work they get to have their paychecks garnished.  Banks that received government bail-out money refuse to help those that are out of work.  Isn't there a parable about this?

There are a lot of people with suggestions.  Get more education.  Train in a different career.  However, that isn't always feasible.  To put it simply, all the education in the world won't bring a job to a dead area.  The answer needs to come from business.  Businesses have to move back into the area. 

I don't think many Americans are fully awake yet to the realities of what is happening out there.  Some are still in stable positions, and if they feel the pinch they might have to forgo their Starbucks or not buy quite the elaborate Christmas they want.  Suddenly 'frugal' is cool.

For the families I saw at the food pantry, they aren't trying to be frugal.  They are trying to survive.