I grew up the youngest of ten children in a rural, middle class family. We were always provided for and were rarely exposed to the struggles and sacrifices most parents make to put food on the table. I vividly remember being less than eight years old, and I was allowed to have a birthday party at home and invite all my classmates from school. We got to sit at the big table! Homemade hamburgers and french fries were served, one of my favorite meals. Everyone was eating their meal, with the exception of one young girl who hadn’t touched her plate. She came from a home most considered to be impoverished. One of the other kids asked what was wrong. “Don’t you like hamburgers?” they said. She looked at her plate in astonishment and said, “I’ve never seen this before.” “What?!” came the reply, “you’ve never seen a hamburger?” “No,” she said. “I’ve never seen this much food before.”

My mother, overhearing this, was so moved that she prepared sack lunches for all the children to take home that day in lieu of party favors. This, I suppose, was my first real exposure to food insecurity. Sure, I had an idea at that age what hunger was. I have seen the UNICEF commercials of starving children in far off countries. Never, though, had I seen hunger up close, in my own home. That was when the Lord planted a seed in my heart; a seed that would flourish into compassion for the impoverished and the hungry. Never did I expect then to be called to the ministry of feeding the hungry as I am today.

It is ironic and a travesty that in the greatest food producing nation in the world, we have people within our own borders that go hungry and sometimes even starve to death. In Garfield county, Oklahoma, we have a 13.5% food insecurity rate. This means, out of a population of 61,898 people, 8,356 of those people don’t know where their next meal is coming from. They are not just the homeless. Most of these people are elderly and families with children. Perhaps they are people you see everyday. It is my hope that with the support of the Enid community we will be able to grow our efforts in feeding those in need; every man, woman, and child.

“Feed my Sheep.” These are the words of Jesus. His commandment to us all.

Lord Jesus, son of God, don’t let me fail you.

Deacon Val Ross
Executive Director, Our Daily Bread