What does it mean to be food insecure?

Does it mean you don’t know where your next meal is coming from? Is that every day or only some days?

Does it mean you have to make choices between paying bills and buying groceries?

What about being creative with items in your pantry and stretching resources?

If you have food to eat, but it lacks variety and quality nutrients, does that count?

Does it mean you feel the pangs of hunger on a regular basis?

During our recent conversation with the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Family Services, we learned that it could mean all these things; and as a church we have a unique opportunity to help combat food insecurity. We provide a direct link to assist people in our immediate community through our food pantry. Our church can collectively use our resources to build up area ministries like Food for Other and Cornerstones in Reston. We can also engage with city and county leaders to advocate for strategic urban planning that will help alleviate the resource burden in areas of high poverty and hunger. We can also coordinate hands-on mission opportunities, such as packing care bags, to meet needs at a grassroots level.

As United Methodists we are called to support equity in the world’s resources and to support the poor and challenge the rich to encourage balance. As a local church we stand open and ready to meet the needs of our local community.

Change begins with us.

We have free, already packed care bags available for pick up at the church. You are invited to stop by and pick one up to keep in your car to share with someone with an immediate need. Thanks for being the church with us.