Until recently, distributing food was a mainstay at Techwood Baptist Center in Atlanta. It was a way to build relationships and minister to the community. But with a drop in Southern Baptist hunger fund giving and a rise in the need throughout the world, the red brick center in the shadow of the oldest housing project in America can no longer open wide it's pantry doors.

"Our food ministry gives us an opportunity to get to know people in the community," said Terry Moncrief, director of the center since 1972. "It is a way to encourage those who are struggling."

The center provides a variety of ministries including Bible studies, job training, and GED classes for a unique community. Techwood was the first low-income housing project in the United States, in recent years a dramatic rehabilitation of the area has created a mixed income housing project.

"We have 900 families within a few blocks of the center," Moncrief said. "Of those, 540 families receive government aid or are 'tax credit' families, which means they don't get a check, but qualify for subsidized housing. The rest of the families pay market rate, which is somewhere between $900 and $1,000 a month rent."

The center also ministers to two high rise apartment buildings for low-income elderly and disabled adults.

"The food ministry is so important, especially to the elderly," Moncrief said. "To get something during the holidays is really special, even if it's just a hen."

The center relies on donations from area churches to provide food at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The rest of the year they work with other agencies to provide food.

"We are blessed with donations from Publix, Kroger and Fresh Market. But we also have to use other groups like the Salvation Army. Of course, that takes extra time to get donations from them."

The center has also quit serving meals at events.

"We used to provide lunch for students in our job training center, but we can't do that anymore. We don't have the food."

Just a few years ago Techwood Center received as much as $12,000 a year to purchase food in bulk from a food bank. Those funds came from the annual offering taken in October by Georgia Baptist churches.

"Hunger fund offerings have been down tremendously in the past two years, not just in Georgia, but all across the United States," said Ricky Thrasher, GBC consultant for church and community ministries.

The offering is unique, because 100 percent of all money received is used for food.

"There are no administrations costs taken out at any level. It's not even used to buy cups or paper plates, just food," Thrasher said.

When the funds are received at GBC, 10 percent is kept to be used in the state for ministries like Techwood Center, the other 90 percent is sent to the Southern Baptist Executive Committee, where it is divided 20 percent for use in the United States and 80 percent for use by International Mission Board missionaries and their ministries.

 

Sunday, October 10 World Hunger Day All of the special offering is used at home and across the world to provide food for the hungry. For more information about World Hunger Day, see the web site www.gabaptist.org or call 1 (800) RING-GBC or (770) 936-5222.

 

You and your church may send World Hunger Fund offerings to:
Dr. J. Robert White, executive director
Georgia Baptist Convention,
2930 FLowers Road, South,
Atlanta, GA, 30341-5562