A multiplication of loaves and fishes: Contributions and friendships lead to abundant food relief in Philadelphia

Jessica WalterA recent news release from Mennonite Central Committee’s Philadelphia office recently proclaimed that “Philadelphia Mennonites are witnessing the ‘multiplication of loaves and fishes’ as they extend a hand to low income members and neighbors.” The article explained that an unexpected contribution for emergency food aid from Franconia and Eastern District Conferences to Philadelphia congregations allowed ten Mennonite and Brethren in Christ pastors and leaders to begin a distribution of MCC grocery bags and 20 pound bags of rice that grew and grew.“These ‘loaves and fishes’ were blessed and began to multiply,” explains Fred Kauffman, MCC Philadelphia Program Coordinator. “We asked a Vietnamese Christian businesswoman, Julie Hang Tran, where to buy rice in bulk. She responded with a very generous personal contribution to the project. Sister Laura Rogers at Crossroads Community Center in North Philly called Cousins Supermarket, owned by Palestinian Muslims, and they donated 1,000 lbs of rice. Pastor Aldo Siahaan from Philadelphia Praise Center went to buy 800 lbs of rice from a Chinese wholesaler, and an employee bought 100 lbs himself to contribute. When one of Bishop Lawrence Chiles’ congregations was distributing grocery bags, a local shop owner came up and donated some canned goods.“Later, while sharing a meal at an Indonesian restaurant, our sense of wonder grew as we listened to each others’ stories of how local resources were appearing to extend the blessing of food assistance. Bishop Chiles summed it up. ‘It’s raining rice!’ he said. “Thanks be to God.”This donation was not the only emergency food response from Franconia Conference. Kirby King, faculty member at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, has helped Nations Worship Center in South Philadelphia to begin what’s being called The Diakonia Project working alongside a fellow Eastern Mennonite Seminary classmate, Beny Krisbianto, who leads Nations Worship Center.“Because of the global economic crisis that is happening, many people in our inner city Philadelphia have lost their jobs, struggle to buy food, don’t know what to do to survive,” explains Krisbianto. “So as the church we want to be the hands of God that are used by him to help our community.”King explained that he approached Krisbianto after class one day and together they set up a plan to help meet the food needs. The Diakonia Project, which is the Greek word for deacon and derives its name from the Acts 6 passage that describes the appointment of seven deacons to distribute food fairly, is donating the staple foods of many Asian cultures: rice, noodles and eggs.“The project component that I am working with is a once a month supply of some basic food for the families for six months, March through August,” states King. “It includes 300 pounds of Jasmine Rice, 300 packets of Ramen Noodles, and 60 dozen eggs. Souderton Mennonite Church’s Genesis Sunday School class is funding the eggs and 150 pounds of Jasmine Rice from Derstine’s Foods. The students and the teachers at Christopher Dock are providing the remaining 150 pounds of Jasmine Rice and all 300 packets of noodles.”“We started with 35 grocery bags, and this weekend we were able to pass out 80 grocery bags,” noted Krisbianto after a recent distribution. “The numbers are multiplying. Other people who have seen our actions started to join with us and contribute more. The donations started flowing to our ministry. I have seen almost 30 new people starting to come to our church in the last two months. All of our congregations got exited because we believe that we are doing the right things to help our brothers and sisters who need help right in this moment.”“I was again reminded of how quickly we can rally together for mutual aid and how caring this Mennonite community is,” reflected King when asked what inspirations he has seen since beginning this project.