Beginning A Hunger Ministry
- Oct 1, 2006 - comment
The North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention gives the following suggestions for beginning a hunger ministry:
- Be culturally sensitive. For example, some ethno-cultural groups would prefer rice instead of potatoes. Do not offer Muslims canned pork.
- List needed items. Divide the list among mission education groups, Sunday School classes, and others who want to help. Ask each group to supply the items listed. After the pantry has been stocked, ask the groups to take turns restocking it monthly. Provide groups with a list of special items needed. Emphasize that with some items, several small packages would be more helpful than one warehouse-sized package.
- Purchase additional food as needed. In addition to joining the local food bank, develop a contact with a wholesale food distributor or grocery store.
- Label storage shelves. Arrange food items in an orderly manner. Stock only basic items that are in good condition. The food pantry should not be the place for church members to dispose of their odd items.
- Plan to discard outdated items. Write dates on labels. Discard unused items on a regular basis. This is particularly important for items like baby food.
- Divide large bags and boxes of food into smaller containers. Macaroni, rice, grits, meal, and dried beans can be frozen for 24 hours, then placed in plastic milk cartons or other containers. These items will then keep for quite awhile on the shelf.
“Ministry Action Plan—Hunger,” His Heart, Our Hands (Alpharetta, GA: North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 2000), 143. To learn more, visit NAMB’s Web site.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Citizenship, Hunger/Homelessness