Churches Reach Out to Community through Food Distribution Programs Churches are stepping out into their communities during these difficult economic times to provide food for those in need. Two examples of how our Hawaii Conference churches are reaching out are the food pantry at Windward United Church of Christ (O‘ahu) and the hot meal program served by members of Central Christian Church (Hawai‘i Island). Rosie Goo, coordinator of the Windward UCC (WUCC) program, said volunteers make this program possible. In addition to the donations of food and funds, individuals shop for food, package food bags, and staff the weekly Wednesday distribution. “There are two basic components to our current program: a weekly distribution of prepackaged food; and regular deliveries of food and other donations to the Windward Spouse Abuse Shelter,” said Rosie. Recently, the WUCC program became an official Hawai’i Foodbank pantry, allowing the ministry to provide even more food than before. There are more records that must be kept by the church, but the benefit of the additional food the church is able to provide is well worth it. Being an official Hawai’i Foodbank Agency means that volunteers can purchase items at a greatly reduced fee (generally 18 cents a pound) and some items are received at no cost. “That's really great for us because our budget is $2,600 for the year,” said Rosie. “In the last couple of months our distribution increased from 20 bags to 50 bags three Wednesdays in a row,” Rosie said the Wednesday volunteers visit with clients to find out how they learned of the food pantry, the kinds of food they would like to see at the Ministry, and other needs they might have. During one of these visits, Rosie said she and her daughter learned that some people who live in their cars have no way to heat their food so they choose saimin that they can put in water and leave in the sun to soften and warm. “It makes you realize how the work we do at least provides some measure of comfort and sustenance,” she said. “It is a constant reminder of our good fortune and the need to continue to provide this type of outreach to people right in our own community who have so much less. We endeavor to reach out to our clients and to treat them with aloha.” The Food Ministry at Central Christian Church has found another way to reach out to the needs in the community. Most of our churches serve refreshments after worship, but Central Christian members have gone one step further to provide meals to those in the community who would otherwise not be able to receive a hot meal. The church started serving refreshments after worship in 2002 as a way to get to know one another better. Then, realizing the need in their community, a small group of women in the church began to coordinate and prepare meals for the refreshment time. This was the birth of the Food Ministry. “Located in an area that has its share of homeless and low income people, this church has become a place where Christ’s love can be found in the Word and by sharing a meal together,” said Sharon Shambaugh. On a typical Sunday, Central Christian members Sharon and Michael Shambaugh gather before worship to make rice and prepare juice, water, and coffee. Sharon and the other church volunteers bring dishes to be kept warm in the oven during worship. After worship they set out all the food for the refreshment time. “Our meals are not planned meals since we rely on multiple sources, but there is always a wide variety of food that covers the spectrum of what one needs in their daily diet,” said Sharon. “Many of those who first came through Central Christian Church door in need of a meal, now come to the Sunday service and Bible study. Their spirits attest to the marvelous works that Jesus is doing in their lives.” Central Christian Church Food Ministry also offers emergency food to the community and is part of Hawai‘i Island Food Bank outreach pantries. Sharon said about 50 people are offered emergency food assistance each month and that number has been growing each month.  Waimea UCC Brings Thanksgiving Blessings to Needy Families  This Thanksgiving the Waimea United Church of Christ raised over $2,500 in a special offering by its members to provide turkey dinners to 100 needy families on the Westside of Kauai. Local business have also donated in kind. Mr. Wesley Park of Big Save Markets arranged for the turkeys and fixings to be bought at wholesale minus 5%. Love's Bakery kindly donated 100 loaves of fresh bread. And local restaurant owner Mrs. Coleen Faye of Wrangler's Steakhouse in Waimea has donated to cook a turkey for any family that does not have an oven of their own to use. The meals were given out Monday morn ing (November 24th).     Churches Reach Out to Help Build Healthy Hearts When churches come together to solve a need in the community, wonderful things can happen.  Anne Leake, Kaumakapili Church member and University of Hawai’i School of Nursing Assistant Professor, and her colleague Venus Bermudo are reaching out to the Filipino community with a special program called Healthy Heart-Healthy Family.   Honolulu Cosmopolitan Church (HCC) not only agreed to take part in the program, members of the church have also teamed up with Kaumakapili Church to reach out to others in the Filipino community.    The National Institute of Health program is the fourth such program developed specifically for reducing heart disease in a particular ethnic group. This time the focus is on helping the Filipino community develop healthy hearts.   Over 50 people participated in the first 10-week program held after worship on Sundays at HCC. Anne and Venus measured everyone at the beginning of the program, which involved education about food and exercise as well as opportunities for exercise and trying new foods.   Anne said because food is more available in the United States, not all the food available is healthy, and because people walk less than in the Philippines, immigrants coming to the U.S. adapt to a lifestyle and make food choices that can be unhealthy. After hearing a description of why certain foods are not the best choices, one participant in the program asked Anne and Venus why the U.S. government does not make it clear on the labels that these foods are unhealthy.   “They got it,” said Anne. “There is a real need for this, especially in our immigrant communities, because when they come to the U.S. they start eating more American-like and it is not good for their health.”   Anne said that at the end of the 10-week program at HCC almost every person lost weight, lowered their blood pressure, or improved their cholesterol numbers. Even the young people showed improvement.    “Even when you know what to do, it is so much easier when the whole family and the whole church is into what you are up to. We just have to build a culture of staying fit and healthy,” said HCC Pastor Felizardo Taripe. “Christ needs his people to be healthy spiritually and physically to be able to continue to spread the Gospel.”   The change in attitudes was evident when HCC members were preparing to share a meal together after worship.  Someone asked if Healthy Heart leaders had brought the food. But the food had actually been prepared by church members who learned about making healthy food choices that taste good. Dr. Nilda Magdamo, Nang Nilda to most of her friends at HCC, is a retired Dean of Silliman University in the Philippines. She loves parties, and before she started this program she would always serve ham and crispy pata (deep fried pig thigh) at her parties. But her attitude has changed.   “Serving healthy food not only saves you time and effort, it also saves lives.”   Now, when Nang Nilda makes dishes for potlucks, Bible studies, or meals for her family, she grills, roasts, steams, or blanches all the food. Her adherence to the lessons and healthy tips has brought her high blood pressure and waist to ideal numbers in a matter of six months.  She puts into practice what she has learned by helping others who are starting the program.   Anne and Venus have sponsored monthly follow-up gatherings at area parks. One program featured exercise kick boxing demonstrations with Dennis Alexio. There was 100% participation from HCC members. Another gathering involved an exercise circuit, and even an 84-year old member who attended participated in all the exercises.   Kaumakapili Church hosted a second learning group made up of members of the Filipino community who have visited the food pantry and free store at the church. When Venus explained the program, over 40 of them asked to participate.   “Rev. Taripe, his wife Lilit, and HCC’s moderator Joe Regales were instrumental in allowing this to happen,” said Anne.  Although Venus speaks two dialects, she does not speak the Ilocano dialect most Filipinos on O’ahu speak.  So Joe recruited an Ilocano translator from HCC’s congregation to make sure everyone understood.   “Kaumakapili has been such a generous host,” said Anne.   Participants are so excited about the program that six HCC members and four women from the Catholic Club at St. Teresa’s have attended “train the trainer” events aimed at creating more leaders to lead this program in other venues within the Filipino community.   “We trained 24 people in May and another 11 people in September,” said Anne. “These people will be able to teach the program to other Filipino groups.”   Anne’s hope for the program is that it will reach out to many people within the Filipino community.  With the help of local churches, that hope will certainly become a reality.   For more information on staying healthy during the holidays, check out the links below: Click HERE for 10 Tips to Stay Healthy During the Holidays Click HERE for information on How to Stay on Your Diet During the Holidays Child Sponsorship ...'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you...' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it for me!' Matthew 25:27-40 (adapted) Would you like to become involved with an easy global mission project? Come, you who are blessed... share comfort and show compassion in life as Christ did around the world. The Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program is the place to get connected! This global children's ministry works closely with private centers that have long-established links with a UCC or Disciples global partner. Through partners, we work in collaboration with our agencies to provide food, basic health care, clothing and in some cases housing, school fees, uniform, books and training and livelihood opportunities to many poor and destitute children in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Europe. The Child Sponsorship program has been providing assistance for more than 40 years—one child at a time... Currently, we have 15 centers participating with approximately 900 children in the program. Over the years more than 3,000 poor and low income children have been embraced by sponsors and their gifts.