Food Ministries

Something to eatIMG_1771

Jesus turns to his disciples and says, “You give them something to eat.”

St. Paul holds fast to a core conviction: Hungry people must be fed. From local meals to global relief, food expresses love for neighbors:

Local food initiatives

Food gatherings: Stuff a grocery bag or two. St. Paul mounts three large food and personal care product in-gatherings each year. Canned goods and boxed cereals mean care for hungry people in our community. Everybody participates – young and old. Our gifts of nonperishable food and toiletries help stock the shelves of the Friendly House Food Pantry in west Davenport. Diapers/wipes and feminine hygiene products go to Madison Market.

The Zion Lutheran Church meal site is part of the vast feeding network of Churches United. Throughout the year, St. Paul teams cook and dish up an evening meal. Find your place in the serving line.

Café on Vine serves more than 4,000 noon meals each month. St. Paul offerings and hands support this outreach.

Home-cooked meals are a gift of care and companionship. Meals are made and offered to families with new babies, or people going through a challenging time.

Madison Market is a River Bend Foodbank school pantry located in the J.B. Young Opportunity Center, serving neighborhood children and their families. This partnership serves hundreds of people each month.

Community garden

A garden grounds us in the simplicity and daily grace of hard works. It’s the dirt under the fingernails. It’s faith that a tiny seed will become a red August tomato. It’s sharing food with others.

The St. Paul Community Garden takes root in plots in the block to the south of St. Paul. Stroll into the garden on a summer’s day. Catch a whiff of the basil. Volunteer to sow seeds, pull weeds, water the beds, harvest veggies. Help a child pat soil around a tender tomato plant. And give thanks for plenty of hands bearing trowels and watering cans.

The garden’s abundance goes to feed people who are food insecure at Cafe on Vine and the Madison Market.

Global food outreach

ELCA World Hunger declares: “It takes more than meals to feed a world.” ELCA World Hunger gets food and life into areas of critical need. Development, education, and advocacy focus on ending global hunger and poverty.

Kids Against Hunger: Kids and grown-ups get into the act, measuring and pouring high-nutrition ingredients into bags. Hairnets and aprons are the accessories of the day. Help package up to 20,000 meals, targeted for a place of need in the world.

Bread for the World: urges our nation’s leaders to end hunger. St. Paul gives generously to this powerful Christian voice. What can one person do? Plenty. Educate yourself. Write a letter. Advocate for justice.

Food: Pastor Katy Warren