Food for Thought
This article was written for the Christmas edition of the Riverview Reflector, December 2020
Like congregations throughout the city our Sunday morning worship service has moved onto Zoom. We were grateful to open the building for 3 months, August – November while restrictions allowed it. Now we’re all safely back at home.
The one thing that has not been shut down is our food-bank, the Oakwood Community Table. Considered an essential service, we have been operating our food-bank consistently every 2nd Saturday under the umbrella of Winnipeg Harvest. Initially we put a stop to the additional coffee and snacks because we couldn’t invite people inside to visit. Something we discovered pretty quickly was that the gathering for coffee and visiting is just as important as obtaining food for the week. Our food-bank friends really missed the sitting around and visiting over a cup of coffee. Food and community are both vital for our survival. That really isn’t new news.
All summer long we were able to visit outside, coffee and doughnuts along with it.
Now with the colder temperatures our building is taking on a somewhat newer look with green tape marking arrows of direction as people come inside, receive coffee and a snack and find a socially-distanced chair in the gym. Like everyone else, we are adapting to the needed restrictions.
With the virus stretching further and restrictions steady food insecurity continues to rise, globally and here in our city. Sheltering at home is far more challenging this time around with increased darkness and colder temperatures. Mental and emotional strain are also on the rise.
While we in GBC grieve the loss of our choral concerts, children’s pageant and in-person gatherings for worship, we are deeply grateful that we can continue to be church – feeding and supporting people who are in need. That is, after all, what we are called to do. As our food-bank operates every second Saturday, as we provide food and winter wear and support, we find the One of Christmas right there among us. That is reason enough to celebrate.
A big shout out to Black Market Provisions, Little Sister Coffeemaker and Tony Chestnut for your support of our food-bank either in food donations or collecting items for our clothes closet.
If you would like to donate non-perishable food items to our food-bank check out our website at gracebiblechurch.ca and follow the link “Connect” to Oakwood Community Table.
Wilma Wiens is Minister of Pastoral & Spiritual Care at Grace Bible Church, 366 Oakwood Ave
Like congregations throughout the city our Sunday morning worship service has moved onto Zoom. We were grateful to open the building for 3 months, August – November while restrictions allowed it. Now we’re all safely back at home.
The one thing that has not been shut down is our food-bank, the Oakwood Community Table. Considered an essential service, we have been operating our food-bank consistently every 2nd Saturday under the umbrella of Winnipeg Harvest. Initially we put a stop to the additional coffee and snacks because we couldn’t invite people inside to visit. Something we discovered pretty quickly was that the gathering for coffee and visiting is just as important as obtaining food for the week. Our food-bank friends really missed the sitting around and visiting over a cup of coffee. Food and community are both vital for our survival. That really isn’t new news.
All summer long we were able to visit outside, coffee and doughnuts along with it.
Now with the colder temperatures our building is taking on a somewhat newer look with green tape marking arrows of direction as people come inside, receive coffee and a snack and find a socially-distanced chair in the gym. Like everyone else, we are adapting to the needed restrictions.
With the virus stretching further and restrictions steady food insecurity continues to rise, globally and here in our city. Sheltering at home is far more challenging this time around with increased darkness and colder temperatures. Mental and emotional strain are also on the rise.
While we in GBC grieve the loss of our choral concerts, children’s pageant and in-person gatherings for worship, we are deeply grateful that we can continue to be church – feeding and supporting people who are in need. That is, after all, what we are called to do. As our food-bank operates every second Saturday, as we provide food and winter wear and support, we find the One of Christmas right there among us. That is reason enough to celebrate.
A big shout out to Black Market Provisions, Little Sister Coffeemaker and Tony Chestnut for your support of our food-bank either in food donations or collecting items for our clothes closet.
If you would like to donate non-perishable food items to our food-bank check out our website at gracebiblechurch.ca and follow the link “Connect” to Oakwood Community Table.
Wilma Wiens is Minister of Pastoral & Spiritual Care at Grace Bible Church, 366 Oakwood Ave
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2 Comments
Lovely positive article!
' That is reason enough to celebrate !! '