Imagine it. ..
*You're a mother of 2 children who is leaving an abusive relationship. You get a place of your own, you get some food from the food bank, but you have nothing to cook the food in or eat the food on.
*You're a rehabilitated prisoner who is trying to make it on your own for the first time. You spent all of your money getting your first apartment, and there is nothing left to buy kitchen items.
What good is a can of food if you don't have a can opener?
What good is some soup without a bowl to eat it in?
Over the past 6 months since David and I started helping out at Urban Outreach, we have learned so much. We've learned about poverty, about how food stamps/assistance works, about how Jesus wants us to pour ourselves into people, not just hand them our old clothes.
One of the ways Urban Outreach helps others is through "Re-start" boxes. These boxes are filled with essential kitchen items (dishes, silverware, pans, etc) and given out when someone is starting over. I had never thought about how much all of those things cost when you're starting over with nothing. Plus, if you don't have a car, it makes it even harder to get to different stores to buy these necessities.
Recently, we've been trying to create some extra re-start boxes, and it has been really exciting to see so many of our church members donate items for this. Now we have 5 boxes ready to go for whenever someone in need comes to Urban Outreach. If you have any gently used kitchen items that you do not want or need, please let me know, and we can put them to use. Jesus doesn't need us, but it sure feels good when He lets us be a part of His plan.
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