Author: Madolyn, Kaleo New York Intern

One of the places our teams serve is a food pantry in Bushwick. The food pantry runs every Thursday from 11-1 and there is a group of people who regularly get food from the pantry. Last week, the building we normally serve food out of was under construction, so we had to move the food to a different location outside the building. There were people already lined up to get food when we started moving the boxes of food and there was only a few of us to move all of it. As soon as we started moving the boxes of food, people who were waiting in line to get food started helping us. At first, I wanted to say, “No, it’s really ok, you don’t need to help.” Then I realized that the people waiting in line to get food probably hadn’t been given anything to help with or participate in for a long time. They probably get overlooked all the time because of their appearance, age, or the assumptions people have about them. I remembered that we are all equal, looking for something bigger to be a part of.

 There was one man who helped us the whole time we were moving boxes and preparing the food to serve. I could tell that he loved having purpose and something meaningful to do. He didn’t want to stop. I think allowing him to help us was more of a blessing to him than the food we handed him. The director of the food pantry told me, “These people are not here because they want to be, they are here because they have to be here.” I was reminded that the people there don’t want to be in the position of having to receive food each week to feed their families. God created us to work and provide for ourselves and when sin and brokenness ruins that it hurts a person’s dignity and creates shame. The gospel equalizes and shows us that we are all broken and need Jesus to heal and restore us. The same brokenness and sin affecting the people in line to get food is in my heart. We are both in need of the same Savior. Recognizing that truth while serving is so crucial. It takes away all pride and self-righteousness that so often rules my heart.