Just a couple of years after ReCAST Church was getting off the ground over a decade ago, I was asked to join a group of community leaders about starting a food pantry in Mattawan that would be a collaboration of local churches and businesses. There were some small disconnected groups that were each serving several families, but we all agreed that together we could do more. And so the Mattawan Area Pantry (MAP) was born.
Fast forward to last weekend where we served almost 200 families from the Mattawan area by providing trunkloads of food, hats and mittens, toys for their kids for Christmas, and we also offered them hope through an opportunity to pray for them and their needs. I spent half a day on Friday and most of Saturday listening to people in need pour out their hearts and I had a chance to pray for them.
It was truly a community effort and especially this year with COVID-19. We separated into two locations so we could spread out more. It was excellent to have the ReCAST Church building used for one of the locations. We love it when our building is used to serve the community.
It has been a privilege to serve the people of Mattawan over the last decade through the food pantry. Our community has a great base of volunteers. The community has rallied often to the financial support of the pantry. And let me wrap up this blog with the main point.
Don’t believe the headlines; there is still good. Don’t believe the headlines; there is still love. Don’t believe the animosity on social media; there are still people who give of their time and resources to serve their community. Be encouraged and get involved wherever God has given you to serve.
