Kids help package meals to feed thousands
Published Friday, May 16, 2008
Toward evening, the disciples approached (Jesus). "We're out in the country and it's getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper."
But Jesus said, "There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper."
"All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish," they said. Jesus said, "Bring them here."
Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed. (Matthew 14:15-21 from The Message Bible)
Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. What would it take you to feed 1,470 people?
Probably more than some fish and a little bread. On a recent Sunday morning between worship services, a group of teenagers and adult youth leaders from First Lutheran fed that many for $147 and 45 minutes of their time at the Kids Against Hunger (KAH) packaging facility at the Westridge Mall. They packaged 245 meals, each of which feeds six people at a cost of 10 cents per serving.
It was a miracle that we packaged so many meals in such a short time. Those kids knew they were making a difference to someone, somewhere, one meal at a time.
Of the meals packaged at the Fergus Falls facility: 10 percent are delivered to our local Food Shelf and Someplace Safe, 40 percent go to Tanzania, 40 percent go to Hondouras, and 10 percent is reserved for disaster efforts.
With prices skyrocketing, we need to be reminded that we are still blessed to be a blessing. We may not be able to multiply bread and fish like Jesus, but through the KAH facility at Westridge Mall, God multiplies our volunteer efforts to make a difference in the world.
For more information on KAH, go to www.feedingchildren.com
Matt Philaya is a pastor at First Lutheran
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