You don’t have to possess a lot to be able to give. The International Day of Charity on 5 September serves as a reminder of this. A congregation in Denver, Colorado (USA) sets a lasting example.
“Rich are those who have much. Richer are those who do not need much. And the truly rich are those who give much.” This is how Gerhard Tersteegen, who wrote the song “I praise God’s love in adoration”, describes charity.
What is charity?
In early times, charity was related to acting morally right and was a term describing a disposition of leniency and large-heartedness. Today, charity is understood as benevolence and Christian love of one’s fellow human beings that is expressed in love and kindness, especially with the notion of generous or spontaneous goodness. This can include donations, but also personal activities that express themselves in love of neighbour.
Studies show that in one of the poorest countries in the world, Myanmar, more than 85 per cent of the population donate regularly. That clearly shows that a willingness to help is rooted less in material possessions than in one’s personal attitude.
International Day of Charity
Thirteen years ago, the United Nations (UN) proclaimed the International Day of Charity to be observed on 5 September. The UN chose the date to commemorate the anniversary of Mother Teresa’s death. For over 45 years, she cared for the poor, the sick, the orphaned and dying.
The aim of this day is to emphasise the importance of charity, love of neighbour, and volunteer work. The day also aims to mobilise people to be kind and give without expecting anything in return.
And in real life?
In 2009, the New Apostolic congregation of Denver Metro in the state of Colorado in the USA, asked itself a question: How can we make a meaningful difference? “Ideas were submitted and the food drive won,” Gertrude Dathe reports. She was there right from the start, when they began collecting food for an existing local food bank. A few years and some structural changes in the church district later, the idea of setting up their own food bank was born. A collection centre was set up on a trial basis. It was a success.
Since moving into their new church building in 2016, the Denver Metro congregation in Arvada has been running its own food bank, the NAC Food Pantry. Their mission is “providing food to supplement the basic needs of our community”. The food pantry works together with other food collection centres, and over the years has developed into an important part sof the local support network.
Charity with a concept
The offer is not limited to the distribution of food. “We do not just help people with temporary handouts,” Sharon Wilson says, volunteer coordinator of the pantry. “We want to help them permanently so that they can lead an independent life in modest circumstances.” The idea is to bring the Helping Without Hurting concepts to the food pantry. The guests of the NAC Food Pantry are always greeted with a smile, a listening ear, and the offer of spiritual and emotional support. Volunteers pray with those who request it and share helpful information about other local resources.
In 2018, the food bank served over 2,700 people and distributed around 7,000 pounds of food. By 2024, that number had grown to over 3,600 people with a staggering 78,000 pounds of food distributed. The NAC Food Pantry is staffed by a dedicated team of around thirty volunteers, who give a lot to help people and meet the growing need—not only food, but also compassion and, above all, time.
Photos: NAC Denver
Photo: Yevhen – stock.adobe.com