Ginny and Thomas never expected to live in Indiana, especially under these circumstances – to get a call like this one, learning they were to be guardians of their grandchildren, but understanding that it meant uprooting their lives and moving from Texas to Indiana.
They did this knowing that they had zero support system here in Hamilton County. No friends, no jobs, and no leads. They just had to be here for family, drawn here by circumstances, they packed up and headed north.
Every so often we get to see God wink. What I mean by that is that something so unexplainable, so diametrically opposed to logic or something so improbable that the only possible explanation is that it was divinely orchestrated. In other words, a “God Wink.”
On the first and third Thursday mornings of every month, Feeding Team opens our offices to the public from 10 a.m. to noon to give away groceries that aren’t available in any of the pantries. This includes produce and meat in addition to some of our normal food distributed. It is meals for a few days. While we promote this community service on social media and in local press media, it is still sparsely attended. We average just a handful of families for each open pantry.
Ginny and Thomas just hit town the day before and coincidently happened across The Feeding Team post about open pantry the next day. They described it as a Godsend, food to take care of them and their newly expanded family until they could get settled. I am merely reporting what happened. That said, the odds that complete strangers from one thousand miles away found a Feeding Team post, found the office, and secured groceries for their family, must be astronomical.
Welcome to Hamilton County, folks. You are going to be alright.
This is the challenge and the work: getting a consistent food supply, distribution, and promotion to needy neighbors is not easily accomplished. It takes dozens of volunteers every month. To each reader, you too can easily be a part of the solution. It’s as easy as taking a can of spinach (or anything else for that matter) and putting it in a pantry near you. Simple, right? Anonymous neighbors, sometimes in town from Texas, are blessed by your generosity.
One last note: Ginny and Thomas are not these folks’ real names. We make it a policy not to ask questions or be nosy. In many cases, like this one, folks just want to say thank you and part of that means telling their story. Feeding Team is a no-questions-asked food source for anyone, regardless of your situation or story. We are here to help serve the community to the best of our abilities.
About FeedingTeam.org
More than 44,000 people in Hamilton County struggle with food needs. FeedingTeam.org is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers outdoor, no-questions-asked food pantries that are open 24/7, all year long. These pantries help families who may not qualify for other programs but still need a few meals to get by.
We are so thankful for all the volunteers, hosts, donors, and sponsors who help us every day. We love serving our neighbors and seeing how your generosity changes lives. Hunger doesn’t always look the way people think it does, and every meal makes a big difference.
A simple can of food can mean everything to a parent who has nothing left to feed their kids. A few meals can change someone’s life.
If you’d like to help, there are many volunteer opportunities. We are also looking for new spots for future pantries. If you know a good location, please contact us.
Mark and Lisa Hall are the Founders of Feeding Team. They may be reached at lisa@feedingteam.org and mark@feedingteam.org or by calling (317) 832-1123.