Looking Out for Your Neighbors

 

I asked Terry (who comes to The King’s Fellowship here on Sunday evenings) to tell me about the people she has been giving the food to that Street LIFE Ministries drops off on her doorstep.  Here is what she said….

“First of all, I really appreciate the fact that I keep working with this ministry because I did have some health issues this summer (heart surgery).  I am getting a lot stronger.  As a Christian, you’re going to be friendly with your neighbors and so this gave me an opportunity to make sure they were handling this COVID pandemic decently.  Everybody has high rent and it leaves a lot less money for food. 

The lady next door to me lives with her son and because of the COVID lockdowns, he lost his job and hasn’t been able to find anything else. 

They told us that their rent is so high. So, I started bringing food to them.  I asked, “Would you like any of this?” They said, “Yes”.  I started bringing the boxes of food that Street LIFE Ministries would drop off and they were blown away.  She made me some Lasagna which tasted great in a gesture to pay back for the food.  I told her that it was not necessary because it was a ministry of the church and assured her, I was just glad to give it to her because I knew she needed it.

I was able to give it to another neighbor next door.  There is a lady who lost her husband a couple of years ago.  He went to the hospital and they wanted to admit him, but he refused.   He died that night.  She was left without him and now having to struggle financially.  I gave her one of the turkeys and she thanked me so much. Both neighbors were very happy and they were ready to give me a big hug, but of course, became hesitant with the fear of the COVID virus.

There is a lot of South American workers that work for my landlady’s son and I asked him if he knew of anyone I could give food to.  He said, “Yes, my workers”.  So, I have been leaving 8 bags of food to these guys.  It is not a whole lot but many are single, and they ride bikes for transportation. I think it’s been a surprise for them that someone would leave them food.  

A nearby town I used to live in was College Point.  I met this old lady one day and said hello to her because I am now an old lady.  She was hobbling by and I found out she has Gout and was on her way back from therapy.   That is how I met her.  We have been friends for over the last 3 years and when we were giving out food, I thought of her because I knew she was alone.  She would go out on her front stoop.  People would walk by and she would have dog treats.  Some of the people would come up because their dog ran to her. She knows how to get people to talk to her.  She’s 88 and she’s lived in that neighborhood, that one house, since 1963.  She said she was going to cut that turkey in half to make it stretch.  

She knew everybody and she knew several people who also needed food.  Her hairdresser was out of work and was stuck in his house.  There was a Chinese family that lived a couple of doors down and a single man who had hip surgery.  Then there were single old ladies who lived down the street that we delivered food to as well.  

I met this one woman with a sweet little daughter.  I’ve been bringing them food as well.  Her husband worked at the airport in the baggage department, but his job hours were drastically cut back to about one day a week.  She is not working, and they have a family of four. Before they had plenty of money, but now that has all changed.

I have been able to distribute the food around.  It’s been a way for me to keep up with people and every time I bring it, and they thank me."  

We are so thankful for Terry who has been able to reach out to NYC neighbors who have suffered through the lockdowns, with the love of Jesus and with food! These are just a few of the home deliveries that we have been doing since March! And we are so thankful to you for your support this year!