Published Jul 15, 2021
Feeding Those Who Feed Us, for eight weeks in the summer (July and August), draws California Southern Baptists together to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of migrant workers and residents of impoverished California communities, primarily in the San Joaquin Valley.
Ministries to more than 20 California Migrant Centers and low-income communities include:
- distribution of food (flour, corn meal, sugar, beans and rice) to low-income farm workers and families
- distribution of clothing (one pair of shoes, one pair of pants, two shirts and a backpack with school supplies) to children ages 4-12
- distribution of a backpack and school supplies to those ages 13-17
Sponsoring churches in most locations provide evangelistic activities such as Vacation Bible School, worship rallies and dental screening using the California Southern Baptist Convention Mobile Dental Clinics. The screening includes referrals to dental personnel; no procedures are performed. Each location is staffed by professional dental personnel (enlisted by the sponsoring church).
A congressional study revealed the San Joaquin Valley is the “new Appalachia,” but receives fewer per capita federal dollars than other impoverished areas in the U.S. The study indicated the Valley has
- high poverty levels,
- low educational achievement and
- growing social needs.
Another study indicates the problem is worsening in the Valley and occurring more frequently in the homes of the working poor: less than 5 percent of those receiving food are homeless; almost half the households have at least one working adult, more than two-thirds had incomes below the federal poverty level, and 85 percent describe themselves as “food insecure,” meaning they don’t know where they’ll get their next meal.
Sources to fund Feeding Those Who Feed Us include
- corporate donations,
- the California Mission Offering,
- North American Mission Board hunger funds,
- individual gifts and
- in-kind gifts.
The cost to fund each ministry site is approximately $2,000. Churches that participate are asked to help defray the cost. Click here to make a donation of any amount. Funds also may be mailed to CSBC, 678 E. Shaw Avenue, Fresno CA 93710, designated for migrant ministry. All donations are tax-deductible.
For more information or to participate in Feeding Those Who Feed Us, contact Oscar Sanchez at (559) 930-3768 or osanchez@csbc.com.