This year we are again reaching out to the city of Philadelphia by sponsoring a Food Drive for the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission (SBRM). The details can be found in this Sunday’s insert but if you are like me, locating the bulletin when you need it can be a challenge, so here goes:
Grocery Bag Distribution: Nov. 2nd and Nov. 9th after each worship service
at the table for SBRM in Reception Hall
and at the church exits on Spruce and on Delancy St..
Collection Date: Nov 16t h only, in Reception Hall
Items: A list of items that are most helpful can be found on
both the insert and the grocery bag itself but all
non-perishable, non-glass items will be accepted.
Now that I have listed all the details I would like to share with you some of the occurrences that I found encouraging during last years food drive. It was wonderful to see how God used this endeavor to not only minister to the city of Philadelphia but also to people at Tenth.
A table for the SBRM was set up at last year’s mission conference and will be there again this year. At the table there will be pamphlets describing the services available through SBRM, a display of food items, the grocery bags for distribution, and a person from the mission. Last year I heard several stories from Tenth members about their memories and experiences with the mission. Did you know that the mission was started in 1878 and its first trustees were John Wanamaker, John Stetson and Atlee Burpee? Do those names sound familiar? Think department store, hats, and seed catalog. What a joy to learn about how God worked in the city of Philadelphia through these men and how this work is continuing on. While I was at the table I also learned that the mission does more than offer meals to the homeless and disadvantaged. A Tenth member learned that someone he had befriended might be a fit for the 12 month Recovery Discipleship Program. In Germantown a transitional home is available for women and their children.( I should have read the pamphlet before helping out at the table)
Several people stopped with various questions but one person’s question stayed with me for several months. A woman asked me to explain to her granddaughter why we were doing this. Trying to think in terms that a child could understand I found myself settling on an answer that just didn’t seem complete. What is the simple reason why we do anything? Read on and see if we accomplished this goal.
When collection day came the response was overwhelming. Over 180 bags were collected. Several people remarked with wonder at the response. Truly God had moved in the hearts of His people. His love for the poor and Tenths desire to be a witness to the city was obvious.
While turning in their food items parents shared how this opportunity had encouraged them to speak to their children about various subjects. Some of the topics were nutrition, stewardship, the poor, the homeless, serving others, Christ’s call to feed the hungry, and Tenth’s outreach to Philadelphia. Several parents took their children with them while shopping allowing them to choose the food items to be given. What a wonderful lesson of faith in action.
In the evening a worker and two men from the mission came to gather what they thought would be a simple collection. Upon seeing all of the bags they asked with astonishment if this was really all for them. In total disbelief they voiced their amazement that we cared for them this much. What a witness. I was later told that during prayer time, the men thank God for the people who gave to the mission. With help from Maranatha, we quickly filled two van loads of food. After receiving the second load the SBRM van drove away to fulfill its mission to “minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the homeless and disadvantaged in the Philadelphia area”.
So how will I answer the question this year as to why we are doing this, I’ll say, to glorify God and make Him known to the people in Philadelphia and I will be certain that we will have accomplished this goal.
I hope this behind the scenes look at the food drive was as encouraging to you as it was to me. I look forward to hearing about the different ways this endeavor has impacted your life this year and may our efforts to Glorify God and to make him known to the city of Philadelphia be pleasing in His sight.
Submitted by a Member at Tenth
