On a recent Facebook post of Little Free Pantry at House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Aliquippa, we advertised the availability of a large quantity of fresh produce donated to us from Faith Restorations Food Ministry. Someone commented “Gotta’ love the Lutherans!” The comment was meant to be complimentary, implying that Lutherans have a reputation for outreach to those in need. But it made me wonder — is our LFP seen as a Lutheran effort as opposed to the human effort that it really is?
One of the most beautiful things about our LFP is that it belongs to the entire community and brings everyone together with the common goal of caring for our neighbors. How fortunate I am to know first-hand how diverse this group is. People of every different faith, or even no faith at all, reaching out to help. People of all ethnicities, races, genders, sexualities, ages, political parties, income levels — all coming together to love one another.
Differences melt away here; only our shared humanity matters.
At a time when it is easy to believe that we are more different than alike, you need only to look as far as this simple, beautiful box to know that the opposite is true. Our Little Free Pantry proves to me every day that we are far more alike than different, looking to connect through acts of love, kindness and compassion, both given and received.
Denise Drabeck, Hopewell Township