Local Food Bank Brings a Community Together
Written by: Amanda Mason
For several years, the congregation of Hope Fellowship Church in Courtice, ON, has been firmly committed to food insecurity in their community. However, this passion for serving the hungry did not start with Hope Fellowship; it started around 1985–86 with an idea by Maria Broersma, a member of Zion CRC in Oshawa, ON, at the time.
History of the Zion Food Bank
Around twenty-five years ago, members of Zion decided to start a new church because the congregation had grown and needed to expand. It was decided that some members of Zion would move on to help plant a new church, Hope Fellowship. Despite becoming two separate churches, the desire and passion to feed the community was amongst both congregations.
The Zion Food Bank is located inside Zion CRC. It is open weekly on Thursdays from 9-11am. Doors open at 8:45am, when numbers are handed out. Users are asked to bring along a piece of government ID for themselves and anyone in their household they are picking food up for. This ensures everyone can leave with enough for their household. Oshawa residents can visit the food bank once every three weeks and still participate in other local food initiatives.
Jim, a member of Hope Fellowship and current deacon, serves at the food bank regularly. After speaking with Jim and Zion’s office coordinator, Michelle, I was welcomed to come to Zion and see the food bank in action!
Hope in Action
A volunteer was waiting for me at the door when I arrived just before nine in the morning. There was already a large group of people who had come to get food for themselves and their families.
Instead of having a bag of pre-picked food, the large room was set up more like a grocery store, giving people a sense of dignity and choice.
As soon as I walked in I saw Jim, who offered to give me a quick tour. Volunteers were already working hard inside, positioned behind the various food tables. Instead of having a bag of random canned goods and fresh food pre-picked for the food bank clients, the large room was set up more like a grocery store, complete with tables and options, giving people a sense of dignity and choice: fresh eggs, milk/dairy, frozen meats, frozen goods, fresh produce, and fruits. A few tables were set up in the middle of the room and Deborah, a deacon at Zion, was assisting with registration. A few other volunteers accompanied her, and the sitting area was already crowded with people waiting to be assisted.
The food bank is grateful for the ongoing support and partnership of local businesses and organizations. Jim told me he is also there on Tuesdays to help unload and receive food donated by local grocery stores such as Costco, Sobeys, Metro, FarmBoy, and local bakeries in conjunction with Feed the Need Durham.
Jim and I went through the room and entered a portable that was once home to Zion’s children’s ministry but is now used for the food bank mission’s freezer room, storage, and sorting. Jim introduced me to Henry, who had been at Zion since the start of this community outreach program in the mid-1980s. Henry runs the storage room where products are stored for overflow. After speaking with Jim, he returned to the bread table and I spent more time with Michelle, chatting while we set out additional options for toiletries for patrons.
As much as possible, deacon volunteers walk around and talk with those from the community – offering prayers, support, and a listening ear.
Michelle pointed out a pastoral care elder from Zion, Jacqueline. When the church receives monetary donations for the food bank, Jacqueline is one of their ‘super shoppers’ who goes out of her way to get as much food for the best value so that no monetary donations go to waste; they are used as effectively as they can.
Michelle also shared how God always provides when the shelves are a bit more bare, particularly in the spring and summer months due to the lack of regular donation drives that are often seen during the holidays. Once when they were in desperate need of meat, an item that is hard to find at food banks, Farmboy stepped up and they actually needed a new freezer to hold the overflow of that donation. Some of the food bank volunteers took some of the meat home to store it in their own personal freezers as the church could not afford to acquire a new freezer. A call came a few days later from a member offering a freezer that Hope Fellowship no longer needed! It arrived just in the nick of time for another meat donation from Farmboy!
Michelle also shared that as much as possible, some of the deacon volunteers walk around and talk with those in the community – offering prayers, support, and a listening ear.
The Impact
A week later I connected again with Deborah, who had been running the registration table. She shared how much she loves serving at the food bank. She mostly works at the registration desk, which is one of the first things you see when entering the sanctuary. Here she often hears tidbits of information from regular clients and has the opportunity to pray and chat with those who come; she knows many need more than just food. They also need friendship and kindness.
Deb mentioned that the number of people using the services at Zion has increased. Sometimes, they see hundreds of clients on a given Thursday, but there are still opportunities to build a relationship with them.
One of those people is Kylie, a younger man who came with his mother. Deb said she felt a bond with Kylie as he reminded her of her own son, who shared the same name and was a similar age. Debbie chatted with Kylie when he came with his mom but also when he came alone. And after getting to know him a bit, she learned that he was sleeping on the streets for a time and she had the opportunity to pray with him. Although she doesn’t see Kylie often, she believes he is doing a bit better in life. When he does come to the food bank, he always makes a point to come up and say hello to her.
Deb expressed that although her diaconal work can be time consuming, it’s also very rewarding. She believes deacons are people who take on the woes of others – who care enough to refrain from passing judgement on those in need of consolation and care.
The Zion food bank initiative values relationships and caring as they help feed the food insecure in their community.
What Other Churches Can Learn
The Zion Food Bank is a wonderful picture of two churches working together to fulfil God’s mission and be a light in this world. These congregations have worked tirelessly for over forty years to help the people they meet feel safe, secure, and cared for. These churches show us what it looks like to unite as God’s servants to help in our community.
Zion’s food bank has also done an incredible job involving a variety of volunteers – pastoral care elders, church staff, deacons – and rallied both the churches AND the local community for donations and support. This endeavour has truly inspired diaconal work between both congregations to help those in the community who are hungry and lacking support. It has also inspired those using the food bank; both churches have seen new members come through the church doors and some clients desire to volunteer at the food bank as a way to give back!
And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, this ministry aims to not only provide food in stomachs but a sense of dignity, in honouring those who come through the doors as fellow imagebearers of God; seeing them as a person, not a project. The Zion food bank initiative values relationships and caring as they help feed the food insecure in their community.
Need Help?
Perhaps God is leading your church to get out of your four walls and get to know your community!
Diaconal Ministries is here for support and resources! Please reach out to your local Diaconal Coach or one of our Regional Ministry Developers.
