I often think about what the next level of our work is at Shobi’s Table. To me, food is just the
beginning of what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. People arrive at our
lunch sites with a mind-boggling array of problems on top of their hunger of the moment. A full
stomach can go a long way when it comes to helping people address their problems clearly and
thoughtfully.

With summer we are beginning to see more school-age kids along with parents. Fatima, a
young woman who has been a recent regular, showed up in June with two more children than I
realized she had. On a recent rainy day, Fatima and her kids joined the small crowd under the
tents to eat. When they had finished eating and the rain lightened, her children began playing
in the river of water that gathered at the curb on its way downhill toward the storm sewer.
Paper serving trays from lunch gained a second life as boats carrying small cargoes down the
river, much to the kid’s excitement. Fatima told me later that week that her children talked about the boat races all day after they left.

Last July and August we served over 100 meals almost every day and we have hit that mark
several times already this year. We would love for you to be one of those 100. Our work is an
example of what it means to be church in the world today. We do not do this just to feed poor
people. All of us experience poverty and I sometimes think our greatest poverty is our isolation
from one another. TV and other forms of media validate our fears but do nothing to mitigate
them. Sit with a stranger over food and they may become a friend; all friendships begin with a
meeting. I echo to you Philip’s invitation to Nathaniel in the Gospel of John, “Come and see!”

– Eric Gustafson; Community Engagement Manager