Al's Outreach Outtakes

Last week, I wrote about the various food distribution programs we have. The one with the broadest impact is clearly the Farm to Families program done at our neighbors, Beaverton Foursquare, each Thursday starting at 9:00am. As a reminder, working with the Archdiocese of Portland, Holy Trinity acts as the sponsor church with Beaverton Foursquare being the physical distribution site.

We partnered with Foursquare because their lot is ideal for this type of event. They can accommodate hundreds of cars lined up, if need be, much easier than we can here at Holy Trinity. The intent behind having it at this location (and various other churches throughout the Archdiocese) is to make food access easy for the local community. Ideally, all 1,020 boxes that arrive each week would be picked up by families within the general area of Holy Trinity and many of them are. But, just like the Food Closet itself, all are welcome to come get food.
 
Just last week, for example, I received a call from the Archdiocese asking if it would be OK for someone from Catholic Charities to come pick up boxes for multiple refugee families they are working with. Absolutely! Thirty minutes later a young man arrived in his personal pickup truck and we loaded every square inch with 60 boxes of produce. He let us know those boxes would go a very long way to feeding the hungry families they are serving.
 
A short time later a St. Vincent De Paul member from St. Pius came in his SUV and asked if he could take eight boxes of produce and eight of dairy to help feed some families they have been supporting. Absolutely! He, too, thanked us on their behalf. (He also offered to bring me some excess donated frozen pizzas they have for our Food Closet. The community shares regularly!)

As I watched the cars go through the lines to get boxes, I recognized some as those we serve at our Food Closet. We encourage them to come. In talking with others they were picking up boxes for their neighbors; some for family members; and yes, many for their own families. On one hand it saddens me to see such great need. On the other, I realize how blessed we are to be able to help in whatever way we can and that we are called to do so:  “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35