The Lord Will Provide

Food is what it was all about that night. Mary Glover offered a blessing over the spread that included fried chicken, potatoes, greens, a variety of salads, and an array of desserts from apple and squash pies to lemon pound cake, chocolate mint cookies, and a coconut layer cake.

Naomi Scott sat behind the piano and led us in a hymn, after which everyone found their way to a place around one of the long tables decorated with white tablecloths and red candles. There was a festive spirit that night, as we celebrated five years of hard work and partnership that had provided food for 800 families and senior citizens every month in the neighborhood we together call home.

A recent report in The Washington Post had concluded that only two cities in the country had higher food prices than Washington, D.C. -- Honolulu, Hawaii, and Anchorage, Alaska. The only explanation informed sources seemed to give for exorbitant food prices here was, "The market will bear it."

But some people could not bear it. In a city overrun with lawyers and real estate speculators, smoked salmon and liver pate may have shown up on lots of dinner plates; but in another part of town, people did not fare so well.

In the early years of the Reagan regime and its cruel budget cuts, we began to learn of increasing numbers of our neighbors going hungry. We opened a food line in the basement of a large apartment building on a cold Saturday morning in November 1982. That was the humble beginning of a program that went on to create a wealth of friendships and gratitude to God.

Testimonies flowed freely that night of the fifth anniversary celebration of the food distribution program. Nona Boozer told how early on she got up every Saturday morning at 4 o'clock in order to get in line to be sure to get food for her children when the doors opened at 8. Doris Knight saw the line one morning and stopped to see what was going on. She continued to come for food. Doris came up with the idea to ask people to come every other week so that the food would stretch a little further and everyone could sleep in a little longer. Both Nona and Doris are now leaders in the food distribution program.

One person who never sleeps in on a Saturday morning is Virginia Ford. She is usually up at about the crack of dawn, greeting people who come to the line, handing out numbers, and directing people upstairs for coffee and tea.

Virginia, who lived in southwest Washington, told the story of her first visit to the food line. She was a mother on public assistance and couldn't afford enough food for her family. Barb Tamialis and Rob Soley painfully had to tell her that the food was only for residents of our neighborhood -- we were already struggling to stretch it to meet everyone's need.

Everyone at the dinner laughed as Virginia explained how she went outside, changed her hat and coat, and came back in using another name. Rob piped up, "I just want everybody to know we knew it was Virginia all the time." With her characteristic persistence, a track record of responsible volunteer work through the years with the food program, and a letter of reference from Barb, Virginia was able to get a stable job. And she continued as a loyal volunteer at the food program.

Doris told the famous "tofu story." She and Naomi and Dan Goering, a member of Sojourners Community and a coordinator of the program, went to pick up some food donations from the local Giant supermarket. Among the contributions was some tofu. Doris wrinkled up her nose at it and looked at Naomi, saying, "What's that?" Naomi responded, "Ooooo, that looks like something Dan eats!"

Dan told the crowd at the anniversary dinner, "It's a miracle we've managed to work together all these years--and here we are eating a meal together!"

IT FELT LIKE A miracle in a lot of ways. Home deliveries were made to those who are unable to come to the center, and about 25 people originally from the line helped to staff and lead it. In addition, the success of the program led to unprecedented approval from the District of Columbia government for Sojourners Neighborhood Center to be a distribution point for the Commodities Supplemental Food Program.

When we first opened the food line, we discovered that of 115 mothers eligible for the program, only two were enrolled. Some were not aware of the program, and others could not carry the 40-pound food packages from the distribution center, which was two miles away. Sojourners Neighborhood Center came to serve 450 people through the supplemental food program, including senior citizens.

The other food sources expanded through the years. We at first relied almost completely on food available at a local food bank. About a year after opening the line, we began receiving commodities such as butter and cheese from a government program. A local church, Lewinsville Presbyterian, faithfully supported the work with donations of canned goods and produce and was honored at the anniversary dinner. The Wonder Bread bakery, a few blocks from the center, supplied us with bread.

Our relationship with the Giant supermarket came through the graciousness of Bill Amey, who was also honored. Bill was grieved that the store threw out so much good food. The Giant store agreed to donate food, and Bill made it his business to make sure we got everything possible from the produce department. In addition to produce and infrequent tofu, we were graced with bread and an occasional "blooper" cake from the baked goods department -- like the one that read "Happy Birthday, Junior. We Love You Both -- Mom and Dad."

Bill talked about his father, who died at an early age from "black lung" he had contracted working in a mine. His mother always said, "The Lord will provide." And he reflected, "The Lord has blessed me with everything I need. And when I see other people in need, I reflect back to my own childhood and how other people helped us. When the Lord has blessed you, you ought to be a blessing to someone else -- and that's all of us."

His words were greeted with a hearty "Amen" from the crowd.

Joyce Hollyday was a Sojourners associate editor when this article appeared.