Partnership Continues Powerfully in Baltimore, MD
There’s nothing like being in the right place at the right time. God has certainly positioned Apostles in the City to serve those in need in Baltimore in this crisis.
Through a relationship we established with Blessings Of Hope in the Lancaster, PA area we began to bring trucks of rescued produce to Baltimore last June. We collaborated with the schools, community organizations and churches and ministries to pull it off each month.
Then the COVID-19 crisis hit. We upped our game, increased the frequency of our deliveries of grocery trucks and began to widen our collaborations. The flood gates opened. More churches and ministries asked if they could get a grocery truck delivered to the people of their community. As the crisis has drawn on the need has greatly increased.
In the last two months we have coordinated the delivery of over 30 grocery trucks to communities all over Baltimore in collaboration with over a dozen different churches, ministries and community organizations. Each truck contains around 350-400 boxes of assorted groceries, much of it fresh produce- eggs, apples, grapes, onions, squash, lettuce, etc. Enough to supplement a family’s groceries for a number of days with healthy food.
Many churches, especially small urban churches are teaming up with churches and ministries in their own neighborhood to cover the expense of bringing the trucks down from PA- $1000 per truck is what we are sending Blessings of Hope to help cover their costs. Churches are also collaborating and sharing volunteers as they reach out, serve and love the people of their communities like they never have before. For example, families, couples and individuals at Resurrection Anglican have been diving in to make lunches for their homeless neighbors in Baltimore. Each bag lunch is a blessing to someone who might otherwise not eat that day. The meals are picked up and delivered by Apostles in the City and YWAM Baltimore.
Next week we will send our first truck to the DC area in collaboration with our new friends at BreadCoin and the DC Dream Center.
We are also beginning serious planning to replicate the work of Blessings of Hope here in the Baltimore/DC region, setting up a food distribution center to receive donations, sort and send out groceries from right here. Please pray that the Lord would send the right pieces and right people.
This crisis has highlighted for us all the crushing need of the poor. As our nation struggles with 15-20% unemployment we are now aware of the pressure poor communities have always felt as they have always had this rate and higher rates of unemployment. I’ve come under the conviction that the way we are serving the poor now is actually how we needed to be serving the poor all along. My prayer is that as the crisis winds down for most of us, we will not forget that the poor will remain in crisis if we stop serving them.
If you would like to support Apostles in the City with the ongoing relief to those in need, please pray. You may send checks to Apostles in the City, 3400 Norman Ave, Baltimore, MD 21213 or you may give online through PayPal at www.apostlesinthecity.com.
The Rev. Jay Baylor leads Apostles in the City, Baltimore, MD.
