Let’s make sandwiches!

A review of the August service project, by Melissa Dean

We began the day by meeting at the church at 9:30 am to make around 120 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to hand out with bottles of water. Our first stop was Spring Valley Rd and Maham Rd. where we approached some day laborers hanging around on curbs and outside gas stations. They were very appreciative and we explained to them what we were doing and where we attend church. We were successful but felt we could have even more impact in downtown.

So, our next stop was City Hall. As we were gathering to decide what direction to go, a couple walked right by us. He was covered in tattoos and was not wearing a shirt and she looked like she was on drugs and was pregnant. We offered them some food and water and they accepted. We began talking with her, Candace, about her pregnancy and how she was feeling. At that point she started to cry and explain to us she hadn’t slept in 4 days because she’s too afraid to sleep under the bridge. If she falls asleep she gets attacked. She has no friends or family that aren’t addicted to cocaine. A group of us walked with her to a bench in the shade and just listened. For an hour and a half we listened to her and we prayed over her, her husband and her baby. None of us ever imagined what offering someone a sandwich and water could do and how much that day affected us all.

While we were talking with the couple, the rest of our group made their way around downtown passing out the rest of the sandwiches and water. Everyone did such a great job to make this project a success. We all felt so blessed to be a part of something so special and look forward to do doing this again!