Join other leaders April 30 to discuss how to deal with issues of food security.
Food insecurity is again becoming an unwanted and anxiety-producing reality for many children, families and individuals in Metro Vancouver.
Increasing food prices and rising unemployment are a recipe for a poorer nutritional diet or the lack of food altogether.
Churches have stepped in to provide food for those in need throughout history, both globally and locally here in our city. Jesus’ command to care for the most vulnerable among us has motivated churches to be key participants in the care of those facing food insecurity.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me.” – Matthew 25:35-36
The Covid pandemic and resulting isolation and struggles to feed families compelled many more churches to join in this effort. During those years, Union Gospel Mission gave away almost 20 sizeable financial grants to churches during the pandemic who were providing nutritious food and meals to isolated folks without adequate nourishment.
In collaboration with Union Gospel Mission, First Baptist and Jacob’s Well, Citygate is hosting a gathering for church leaders who are concerned about people’s food insecurity now. On Thursday April 30, we are inviting church leaders who are already involved In addressing food insecurity. or who are interested in learning how to be involved, to a lunch at First Baptist Church in downtown Vancouver.
To participate in this free lunch and dialogue April 30 (12 – 2 pm) at First Baptist Church, you need to register here with the name of your church or organization.
At this event, you will:
- Meet others who are providing food in our city;
- Learn how to access an abundance of free food;
- Explore best practices that foster dignity for our guests;
- Dialogue with others around a theological vision for a city with food for all.
If there is enough interest at this event, we are keen to gather leaders together again with the aim of first bringing together distributors of free food with churches and then meeting with City officials to learn about how they are willing to collaborate with churches to cultivate the sort of city wherein people have nutrient-filled diets and sufficient food to sustain their well-being.
Previously, CityGate had started the Planted network under the leadership of Karen Giesbrecht and Jonathan Bird. The Planted network not only transformed the meals and food offerings of many churches around our region – to make their efforts more nutritious and dignifying – but this network also connected groups who were often isolated to build a more resourced and collaborative food web in our city. Our hope is to restart and continue this sort of vision.
As Karen Giesbrecht wrote in a previous article for Church for Vancouver:
“If we consistently have access to enough nourishing food, we recognize when we have eaten enough, and then we stop eating for a few hours (or at least we should). If your body is about the same size as it was a year ago, you have learned this intuitively.
We all eat too much occasionally, but our bodies are incredibly adaptive, and will adjust what we eat over the next day or so (or at least should),so our clothes continue to fit us comfortably.
But for those who have lived through periods when they could not access enough food, hunger is more than a passing discomfort. Chronic hunger changes one physically and psychologically [leading to] erratic sleep, lack of safety, withdrawal, grief and loss.”
Not only did I observe this reality for people without food when I was pastoring in East Vancouver, after we began a free community meal in response, I also was surprised to learn how much quality free food was available. At this upcoming gathering, experienced food providers like Joben David of Jacob’s Well and David Nacho of First Baptist will fill you in on how your church can access some of this free food to care for residents in your neighborhood.
I hope you can join us for this free lunch and conversation on April 30. I believe that addressing food insecurity is not only a way for the church to bear witness to the love and care of God but to significantly shift the narrative about the Church in our city in a positive direction.
Tim Dickau is Director of CityGate Vancouver.