YOUTH SERVE TO SUPPORT FOOD SHELF

“So the people who show up to our food shop are folks who live in the neighborhood, from the homeless shelters, folks who live in the Camden north Minneapolis area, and even folks outside of Minneapolis but who are just hungry. What we do is we open up the parking lot and first feed them by giving them a well-grilled hamburger or ribs or chicken making sure that their tummies are full before they go into the food shelf to shop for food for themselves and their families.

The advantage of this model is that what we’re doing is less about giving out food and more about building life-giving Christian community. This community is lived out in breaking bread with one another, in-service opportunities, and partners in relationship with other churches, and with that—the opportunity it provides wonderful leaders like the youth at Lord of Life to provide tables and chairs for the sake of convenience and hospitality of all who are coming in need.” —Pastor Jeff Nehrbass, Gethsemane Lutheran (at far right in top photo on this page)

Along with contributing to the ministry at Gethsemane by building tables and chairs, this event provided learnings around the bigger picture of food insecurity. These groups talked about the power of food to greatly impact lives physically, mentally, socially, economically, and spiritually. For a glimpse of our learnings for yourself, I encourage you to try out the ‘playspent.org’ simulation. —Elizabeth Pedersen, High School Ministry