“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25

One of the many qualities that has characterized the exceptional witness of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church over its 30-year history has been a dynamic commitment to the local community. Initiatives such as Walk Through Bethlehem, Habitat for Humanity, and more cutting edge hunger action ministries than it is possible to list.

Not the least of these has been the long term relationship with Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry. I have great memories of welcoming hundreds of people to the CLC when WFPC hosted the community for TRM’s annual fund-raising dinner.

Rebekah and I may be worshipping with Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church now, but we are still living in Wake Forest, and remain committed members of the local community. Consequently, we were pleased to join many of our friends for this year’s STOP HUNGER FEED HOPE dinner event, hosted at The Sutherland.

It may surprise some of you to realize that an idyllic, affluent community such as this has issues regarding food insecurity. Fact is, your community does too. And the Covid years, continuing into this post-pandemic new reality, simply exacerbated the need.

Check out some of the following facts:

• Prior to Covid, Tri-Area Ministries served around 800 families 75-pounds of food each month.
• Today the numbers are 1,400 families and 100 pounds of food.
• In Wake County, more than 12% of the population is considered “food insecure” – including close to 40,000 children.
• (through TAM) you can feed six families for one year with $2,000
• $125 provides 25 families with bread for one year
• $1,000 provides milk for 25 families for one year

The goal for Friday evening’s event was $65,000. If you live in this area, it is not too late to donate. If your church is not involved in hunger ministries, now is the time. If you are a pastor, your leadership/visibility counts.

In the final analysis, it is the words of Jesus that are most compelling and most instructive: “Whatever you do for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you do for me.”

In love, and because love compels us to act – DEREK