Community Outreach » Feeding the Hungry » Hot Dish & Hope

Hot Dish & Hope celebrates 2 years

 

By Sheron Sumner

Happy Anniversary! Hot Dish and Hope celebrated its second anniversary July 8. A special celebration will be held during the July 11 morning worship service.

 

Yes, this ministry is still going strong and faithfully – rain, sleet, snow, or heat – we serve dinner and a “measure of hope” two nights every week, Tuesday and Thursday. This past winter we even served on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Annually, we serve more than 12,000 meals. This ministry allows us to experience and put our faith into action as we serve others.

 

This ministry was started because there was no place for the homeless or needy to eat in our city on Tuesday evening. Six months after the ministry began, a second evening, Thursday, was added to provide a meal on that evening, too. Since more than 4,800 homeless individuals were identified in 2009 in Greensboro (based on registration records available at shelters), we know nutritious meals and fellowship continue to be a community need.

 

Our success can be attributed to the strong support of our members who desire to be involved in a hands-on ministry that serves an observable community need. In addition, the collaborative partnership and support of other churches and groups from throughout the community have made this ministry possible. A spirit of love, respect and caring always exists.

 

Churches who regularly take a leadership night are Holy Trinity, Guilford Park Presbyterian, Memorial Presbyterian, West Market Street Methodist, World Vision International Christian Center, New Creation Presbyterian and Temple Emanuel. In addition, we have volunteers who regularly come to serve from several other faith communities such as Providence Baptist Church, Cathedral of His Glory, St. James Presbyterian and St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. Students from A&T University, Greensboro College, UNCG, GTCC and Elon University often call to participate. Community groups of Girl and Boy Scouts, sports teams from Proehlific Park, employees from various corporations and others help set up and serve on any given evening.

 

This ecumenical ministry gives our church an opportunity to work with people throughout the community and enables some smaller churches to be involved in service in ways that transcend their current opportunities. The personal relationships developed with other churches and with our guests are real joys of this ministry.

 

Members of FPC often say, “I am so proud of what my church is doing through Hot Dish & Hope.”

 

Currently, we are averaging about 100 to 120 guests per night with an increase toward the end of the month to about 140 guests. Every week there will be some new faces, regular faces and returning faces. Regular volunteers are always eager to see and visit with guests who have become their friends.

 

As a result of Hot Dish & Hope, our church sponsored a Winter Emergency Shelter for 20 men the past two winters. We now offer a clothing ministry to our guests who have need for seasonal clothing. We often provide other assistance to guests or refer them to appropriate agencies.

 

This past year a small choir was formed among our guests, The Voices of Hope. Recently, they sang the national anthem at a Grasshopper’s baseball game at NewBridge Bank Park. Imagine the pride and joy they felt to participate in a community event when they knew for sure “I am somebody and I have gifts!” Since then they have been invited to sing at another community function and will sing in our July 11 worship service when we celebrate Hot Dish & Hope’s anniversary.

 

We continue to fund the ministry with contributions from First Presbyterian members and partner churches and designated offerings from First Presbyterian. All of the participating churches contributed to the ministry last year and several have already made a contribution for 2010. It takes about $3,000 per month to provide the meal.

 

Gifts to fund this ministry can be made at any time during the year. A church member who married this past year requested “no gifts” and asked that contributions be made to Hot Dish in the couple’s honor. Those gifts surpassed $2,000. Each week the Pepperidge Farm Bread Outlet store in Burlington donates bread for dinner and we pick it up. Often, extra bread is distributed to our guests as they leave after dinner and it is their breakfast.

 

We thank First Presbyterian members and volunteers who have supported or are supporting this ministry. What a difference this ministry has made in our church! With your continued support we can strengthen our outreach in the Greensboro community, continue to make a difference in the lives of those we serve and, at the same time, transform our own lives.

 

Yes, we welcome new volunteers...we need your continued financial gifts and we seek new leaders to assist in both large and small tasks. If you have not visited Hot Dish & Hope, I encourage you to do so. Join us in the July 11 worship for a great celebration and refreshments in the Mullin Life Center after worship.