God at work over a meal!

Reflection by Peter Wieranga, Belmont Grad

First of all I would like to point out that ENCM had the best development mindset I have seen in a non-profit out of all of the social ventures I have worked for.  There have been few that are socially conscious and that go beyond the idea of merely helping without weighing the actually community benefits.  There are may people with good hearts in Nashville and Chicago (both cities I have had contact with), and many incredible Christians, but many see service as needs assessment.  This approach, as emphasized in When Helping Hurts, can continue systematic oppression without realizing it.  All who wish to help need to understand the ramifications of their helping.  Often people neglect to realize that helping can actually accentuate the problems rather then bring about healing.

            ENCM has the desire to break from this mold and rely on the community for change from the inside out.  Ryan, something you told me stuck with me, “We look to work ourselves out of a job.”  That is truly a special response.  It is important to be sustainable to a degree, so those who look to have ENCM as a safe place to use their talents to benefit the community can do so, but it is important to look to a future where ENCM is not needed.  This is our mandate from Christ.  From working there for a year, all those who spend their time and work there have this vision.  It is apparent that assets based change is the long-term goal even with how people in the community work jobs they are good and passionate about.  Again this is a special thing.

            All this being said, you know that ENCM has a ways to go.  Currently, while community members primarily work the building, I would like to see more people from the community having incentive to work in the gardens as well.  There are glimpses of this in certain gardens, and community members are apt to help with certain needs, but I believe it would be beneficial for ownership and leadership to be primarily entrusted to those in the community (especially those receiving services). 

            From what you were telling me a month ago you were looking to distance further from providing food boxes, which I believe to be a good step.  You know better then I that food boxes are a band aid rather then a cure.  Jesus does tell us to feed the hungry, but there are ways to go about this change that do not support oppressive means.  The gardens will be key in this, primarily getting people involved in its work.  How to cook the vegetables will also be key, which I heard rumors of providing cooking classes. 

            I believe ENCM is transitioning well.  One thing also to be considered is the damage that could occur if you transitioned too quickly.  Because ENCM has been food provider for so long, it is important to remember that people do rely on the mission as it is, whether that is good or not.  People are still hungry in the community, and we cannot leave them flat.  Patience will need to be key, and small changes are the approach needed to make a transition successful for the community and the coop.

Another Moment of Inspiration

Over the past couple of months we have launched a small and very promising partnership with The Contributor—our local Nashville street newspaper. Well, Anita, a formerly homeless neighbor who has been gardening with us, learning to cook better at our community lunches, and partnering with us at the East Nashville Farmers Market, spilled all of her papers on our food pantry floor. Stooped over and picking them up—her vision blocked by her wide-brimmed hat—she said she saw the “hand of Jesus” come into view. A young volunteer had stooped down right behind her, not ever having met each other, and started picking up her papers. The “hand of Jesus” for Anita, as she said later, meant that the work of the divine reached right on into the muck of her life and helped out. This day, she said, it was in the form of a little brown hand of middle schooler.

At the Co-op we hope to encourage and participate in the hand of the divine reaching into neighbor’s lives to help out.