Meeting Needs

“ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”

James 2:14-18

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

— Matthew 25:34-40 (New International Version)

Hunger and need are sometimes unique to a person's checkbook. Stereotypes miss the person who has a need hidden in the details of life. Some agencies limit the frequency a person can receive help.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Sidney has a program less focused on the details than it is on offering help to hungry households.

“We started it probably at the beginning of the year,” Administrative Assistant said Nancy Gipfert said.

The philosophy is to focus serving people in need, regardless of social or financial status. A grocery cart was set inside the church for donations, and a freezer was donated for meats and frozen goods.

Outside of the church is a structure almost the size of a small church sign. It resembles the “Neighborhood Library” with the take one-leave one appearance found in other parts of Sidney and various communities. This display doesn't have novels and how-to books as a habit. They are stocked with a variety of dinner mixes, canned goods and foods necessary for families.The foods are available 24/7 as long as supplies last. The plan is when the “Food for You Pantry” runs low, it will be restocked by the church and donations made to the program.

Gipfert said some people have used the outside food pantry at night. Others have left non-perishable foods in the outside the Food for You Pantry display. Items in the Food for You Pantry include meal packages such as Hamburger Helper.

She said people who need the hamburger to go with the package are encouraged to stop in the church and ask.

“They can always stop in the office. We will gladly help people,” she said.

She said the hope is other churches in the area will start a similar program. The idea starts with meeting the needs of whomever needs help, regardless of their income. She said the plan is for the Food for You Pantry to be available all year long. Content of the Food for You Pantry may vary, depending on the time of year and weather conditions.

“It's a pretty simple concept really,” Gipfert said.

She said the Food for You Pantry design can be found online. Similar designs can be found on Pinterest and Etsy.