Personal Narrative: Power Pack Yuma

There are hungry children in my neighborhood? The question shook me to my core. As Pastor Bob spoke, I wondered about the family situation, what could be the reason parents were not feeding their children? So many thoughts flooded my mind, how were they spending their money; what about public assistance and food stamps; why is this happening in my community? Next, I was convicted in my heart; this kind of thinking was part of the problem, not part of the solution, I have been called to love people, not judge them. Pastor shared about Power Pack Yuma, a forming group of churches reaching out to feed the hungry children. We decided to start up Power Pack at Oasis Church. Working alongside the nurse in the school across the street, our group
quickly identified 20 children that were not getting enough to eat over the weekend. The school provided breakfast and lunch on school days, but the on weekend, these children were going hungry. We started collecting and buying food, packing gallon food storage bags with breakfasts, lunches, snacks and juice, and delivering the packs to the nurse for distribution to the children.
At first, we worked within a small group of interested people, meeting in a home to accomplish the goal.
Storage and logistics were difficult at best; we were really working out of the trunk of a car. Over the next few months, we devised a plan to fund and build a storage cabinet in the main classroom at the church. We started packing during the break between services, so others could join in. We shared the need for food donations and volunteers and the offerings started flowing in. We also shopped for the understocked items, after we completed an inventory of the needs for the following week. We placed the packs in bins for the 5 schools, to be delivered on Thursday, by yet other volunteers. Recruiting help was easy; friends would just look in to see what was happening and joined us. Our group of volunteers has a core of 7, including 2 youth. Our numbers swells to 15 or more weekly, including families with children, youth and adults.
As we firmed up our process, we communicated about the ministry to other neighborhood schools and are now packing 60 bags a week, for 5 different schools. We deliver over 2,000 Power Packs a year to hungry children. The youngsters visit the school nurse, in private, on Friday afternoons before going home for the weekend. They carry their packs home in their backpacks. The process is as easy as possible on the children, without logistical issues or humiliation. We have continued this ministry for three years now and plan to sustain the activity until the need is
eliminated.
I have learned much about organization, cooperation and team work through this process. I also became aware of the reality of poverty in my own community. I have developed a heart of compassion for those in need and will continue to help others through my life, with my finances and with my time. Living in the self-focused “me” generation, I am at risk for only considering my own needs and wants, based on the culture surrounding me. However, the Power Pack experience has drawn me away from ego centric thoughts, as I have learned to see the need in my local and global community. I dedicate my life to seeing with the eyes of my heart while placing value on enriching the lives of others.
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