Gleaning

Our church encourages every Lifegroup to serve the community outside their group in some way. Our small group struggled for a way that we all could serve together, because our group happens to include 9 children ranging in age from 9 to 4. One group member found a ministry which welcomed kids~ The Society of St. Andrew (SOSA). Our group went "a-gleaning"!

We learned some pretty startling statistics which pricked my heart and convicted me quite a bit.

"More than one in five children is at risk of hunger. Among African-Americans and Latinos, nearly one in three children is at risk of hunger.

In the United States, according to the USDA, 27 percent of all the food produced each year is lost at the retail, consumer, and food service levels. That turns out to be about nearly 1.5 tons of food per year for every man, woman, and child in the United States who faces hunger. To put it another way, in the U.S. we throw away about 263 million pounds of food a day… every single day! And much of what is wasted actually is just surplus food. It is perfectly edible. And that doesn’t even count the food left in the fields or discarded before delivery."

I began to think about all the food I wasted, and became really convicted!

SOSA exists to help bridge the gap between wasted food and hungry people. It's a no-brainer! They have individuals (like us), come and pick up what is left in the fields after major harvesting is done. This concept is detailed in the Bible in Leviticus:

Leviticus 19:9-10

Verse Concepts

'Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 'Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.'

and 

Deuteronomy 24:19-21

Verse Concepts

"When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. "When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. "When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow."

So, gleaning is actually God's idea. Again, further proof that God gave rules because he knows how things work best.

The kids really enjoyed themselves as we gleaned

Disclaimer.....

As I'm all rah,rah, ree, I must make a confession....I did not jump up and down when I found out what our service project was going to be. I'm sooo not a farm, or even outdoor person. I hate the bugs, the dirt and the sweat. But, I decided to make a sacrifice and join the rest of our Lifegroup. I'm really glad I did. I'm glad that I helped in a minuscule way to combat hunger. 

So, if you are looking for a way to serve with your kids and make a difference in the fight against hunger, contact SOSA. http://endhunger.org/hunger-in-america/  They will guide you through everything you need to know to get started.