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DiggBrown Bagging It: Trinity's New Lunch Ministry for People in Need
By Nicole Seiferth
When John Heuss House, Trinity’s drop-in shelter,closed due to city funding changes in June 2009, it was clear that its loss would leave a big gap in the services provided to the homeless of Lower Manhattan. One of those key services—feeding those who are hungry— will begin again in October, as part of a new program staffed by Trinity volunteers.
Brown-bag lunches, packed with filling, nutritious food, will be handed out from the north side of Trinity Church throughout the work week. The bags will be packed on Sunday mornings during coffee hour.
Trinity’s community, says the Rev. Matt Heyd, director of Faith in Action, is looking for new ways to serve the homeless since the closing of Heuss House, which was deeply felt by many in the parish.
“We’ve taken something difficult and tragic, and decided we’re going to respond as a community of faith.”
The Brown Bag Lunch program is one of several initiatives proposed by a committee of congregation and staff members who are working with the Rev. Canon Anne Mallonee, vicar, to find new directions for Trinity’s homeless ministry.
“After Heuss House closed, there was no feeding program in Lower Manhattan,” Matt explained. “This is a clear way that the entire community can be involved.”
In proposing the program, the committee pointed out that the only miracle story in all four Gospels is the feeding of the five thousand who show up to hear Jesus preach. “Jesus instructs them, ‘You feed them,’” the proposal reads. “And, from God’s abundance, the disciples did.”
“Our faith calls us to be active,” said committee member and parishioner Roz Hall. “We know that there’s a population of hungry people in our neighborhood.”
Trinity can only feed those people, Roz says, if it has the volunteers to pack and hand out the lunches. “Volunteers are how it’s going to happen and how much we can do. We can’t do it without volunteers.”
To find out more or to volunteer, contact the Rev. Matt Heyd at mheyd@trinitywallstreet.org or 212.602.0711.