What We Need - The Hunger To Connect
One day, Food Co-op Coordinator Annette McAllister saw a woman going through the dumpster behind Brookside Community Church. Annette asked her if she needed anything and if she was hungry. The woman had nothing, so Annette invited her into the pantry to make a bag of food. While she and the woman assembled the bag, they shared their stories. They talked about life and faith, and Annette invited her to visit Brookside Community Church.
Annette beams as she recalls that day and says, “She was so happy to make a connection. Now she comes to church here. She felt good about someone coming to talk to her about Jesus even while she was in a dumpster.” The dynamics of dignified relationships open the door for this type of interaction and are at the center of our mission at Brookside CDC. This approach influences every aspect of our ministry, including how we respond to food insecurity.
According to the Indy Hunger Network, there are over 888,600 Indiana residents who are forced to choose between buying food or paying for transportation, utilities, and other necessities. The need is great and finding a long-term solution to reduce food insecurity is vital to our community. Out of these conditions, the Food Co-op was created.
Brookside Community Food Co-op is a membership-based program where participants volunteer for 2-hours every month at Brookside Community Church in addition to shopping in the pantry once a month. Members serve in a variety of ways, from building maintenance to teaching Sunday school in our children’s ministry. This non-transactional approach encourages people to use their capabilities to provide food for themselves and their families. We want to create healthy relationships that remind individuals of their inherent worth including their abilities that they must contribute to the world in some way. Our hope is to connect deeply to our community through this membership model. Today, we have 42 individuals participating in this program.
At Brookside CDC, we seek to respond to the immediate needs of those living in the Brookside neighborhood. Many struggle with addiction, face food insecurity, and lack affordable housing. Yet deeper than these outward struggles are the need for hope, connection, and community. We’re all hungry to connect with each other, to be valued and loved. Brookside CDC works to respond to both the immediate needs of an individual while committing to walk alongside them long-term. We are not here for a one-time transaction, but for an essential connection that helps individuals create lasting change in their lives.