Gifts for Our Neighbors

If you’ve visited our Needs page here on our website, you’ve no doubt seen snack bags on our running list of needs. On an average day, we’re passing out 30-40 snack bags. During COVID-19, those numbers have increased. We’re passing out roughly 100-120 snack bags every day, Monday through Friday.

It can be, understandably, difficult for our staff to keep up with the demand for snack bags. Our snack bags are usually quart-sized sandwich bags filled with individually wrapped snacks that we distribute to children and those in our community experiencing hunger and homelessness. For many of our friends, it’s their only source of food until we see them for lunch the next day. Even during standard operating, we rely on donated snack bags to keep our supplies even with the demand. With the increased demand, we’re almost at the point where we’re distributing in one week what we would have been distributing in one month. 

So when Pastor Jason Ha of the Evergreen Presbyterian Church stopped by on Friday, April 18th with 90 snack bags, we were overjoyed. But these snack bags were different than normal. They contained snacks, yes, but they also had a mask in each one. As we all know, masks are recommended to slow the spread of COVID-19, but it can be difficult, if not nearly impossible, for those vulnerable members of our community who are experiencing poverty or homelessness to acquire them. We were all full of gratitude to see Pastor Ha and Evergreen Presbyterian Church had thought to include masks -  this precious and, at times, limited resource – for those we serve.

But what really tickled me is that the snack bags and masks were not in the standard plastic sandwich bags, but rather, in brightly colored gift bags. It was a visual reminder of what these and every donated snack bag is, a gift. These snack bags were a gift to our staff as well because they helped us meet the needs of our community. They were a gift to those we serve as they provided food and a measure of safety.  This gesture reminded us that even during times such as these, a global crisis, we in West Montgomery are thought of, cared for, and not overlooked.  In fact, we are continuously blessed with gifts that unite us all.  

We are grateful for this gift, for the reminder it brings, and for the pink striped and green zigzag packages they came in.

God Bless,
Pastor Ken Austin