Communique Magazine

Babylon Village in Long Island, New York, is widely known to be a safe and friendly neighborhood and beautiful place to live. Babylon is on the south coast of Suffolk County in Long Island, making it a popular summer destination, but the downtown area exhibits fine restaurants, a historic theatre, and trafficked bike paths that keep both locals and visitors busy year-round. Christ Episcopal Church has been nestled among the now multi-storied homes and quaint parks since the 1930s.

What might surprise the average visitor is that Nourish Babylon—a weekly community feeding ministry—has been serving roughly 50-60 restaurant quality meals to hungry locals every Monday night since their founding in 2015. The ministry has become much more than a meal. This 60-volunteer-strong organization now maintains an organic community garden; collects and disseminates clothing, outerwear, and toiletries to guests; connects guests with a mobile shower facility; employs a part-time social worker to assess wholistic needs; and maintains strong connections with numerous civic, business, non-profit, and philanthropic partners.
The now-flourishing ministry was met with serious resistance upon its founding. Many members of the affluent community surrounding Christ Church attended a zoning board appeal meeting in protest once they were informed of the plan to feed hungry residents in their neighborhood. They cited limited parking, traffic congestion, increased criminality, and vulnerable property values as their chief concerns. Advocates for the new ministry spoke strongly about the need to recognize and support vulnerable neighbors.

The Church never needed the approval of local government to launch the ministry, due to its rights grounded in religious freedom, but the publicity gained from this high profile and public debate garnered support for Nourish Babylon right from the start. Diane Gaidon, who has been the coordinator of Nourish Babylon since its founding, attributes a portion of its consistent financial and volunteer support to the media attained during this launch.
Since the initial publicity, the Nourish Babylon team has made it a priority to be widely recognized in the community, as this became essential to ensuring that the ministry fulfills local needs, attracts volunteers, and is financially sustainable. Developing relationships with local media, churches, and community groups has been critical to their ministry. Additionally, making successes and challenges known within the parish, on their website, and by publishing reports and marketing materials has been another vital means of raising awareness and resources for the ministry.

A mere six months into serving weekly meals, complaints from the community virtually ceased. Because the church did not have adequate parking for an influx of volunteers and guests each Monday night, Nourish Babylon established an effective parking system around their desire to be good neighbors. The system reserved nearby parking for people with disabilities and asked anyone who could walk to park on nearby streets. A behavior covenant was established to ensure that all guests would be treated with dignity while also prohibiting the use of drugs or alcohol during Monday meals.

In retrospect, Diane says that the insight the team gathered from that initial consultation and debate within the community was quite valuable to their ministry. Community members had a platform to air their concerns, and volunteers were able to build solutions without compromising the ministry. It was vital for the team to approach their work by listening closely to people’s concerns and responding accordingly. This method of listening to challenges and implementing concrete solutions is now a fundamental element of the work at Nourish Babylon.

Nourish Babylon expanded in unique ways in response to the stated desires and needs of guests. Back in 2016, while the ministry was still predominantly only serving meals, Monday dinners became a time for volunteers to meaningfully connect with guests. Evening prayer before meals was one of the earliest requests that has now become a normal part of the Monday night routine. Access to showers was another challenge, and Nourish Babylon partnered with Hands Across Long Island to provide a mobile shower so that guests could wash up in preparation for their restaurant-style meal. Throughout the years, a few members of the Nourish Babylon community have died, and their funerals and memorial services were held in Christ Church. This simple honoring of life—denied to so many people without resources or family to care for them—is a testament to the spiritual nourishment Nourish Babylon provides.

Creating a caring, comfortable, and dignified experience for their guests is an essential part of Nourish Babylon’s vision. As the ministry endured and adapted, it was clear that realizing this vision was going to require more than a single meal each week. Nourish Babylon expanded in many ways that volunteers may not have expected when they first launched a feeding ministry. Student volunteers coordinated a sandwich-to-go program so that guests could bring home a sandwich after Monday’s dinner. They hired a social worker to assess the needs of guests and refer them to local organizations for much-needed services. The church collects gently used coats and outerwear to distribute on Monday nights. Nourish Babylon expanded in this way because the team listened to the needs of their guests and responded in practical ways. While not every ministry can meet every need, building a network of organizations and professionals that can meet diverse needs was vital to Nourish Babylon’s vision of upholding the dignity of all people they serve.

“Affordable housing remains the hardest nut for us to crack,” Diane laments. When many of the Monday night guests made it clear that they were unhoused, Nourish Babylon turned to their partner, Jean Kelly, of the Mary Brennan Inn and their Center for Transformational Change. The model used by the Center for Transformational Change is identifying a few individuals who are the most likely to be able to find and afford housing with limited additional support and following these selected individuals in their journey from homelessness to housing. Nourish Babylon accompanies them in every step of their process: identifying employment opportunities, drafting resumes, getting government-issued identification, paying for public transportation, and more.

This accompaniment program is the latest Nourish Babylon is taking on. Before its initiation, the team consulted partner organizations to learn about best practices, raised funds, budgeted for the number of individuals they would accompany, and had their part-time social worker complete a thorough needs assessment of potential candidates. Particularly with such a time-consuming and potentially life-changing initiative, it is extremely necessary to ensure that a ministry has the connections and resources needed to carry out the program before launching.

Just as the ministry changes in response to the needs of the community, inevitably, so do the volunteers. Diane has been coordinating the activities of Nourish Babylon for seven years, and she reflects that the work has certainly not been without challenges.

“It’s difficult for me to identify obvious ‘successes’ because the people we serve never seem to catch a break. So many people seem to be dealing with insurmountable challenges. We do what we can to support them, and that has led to us hiring a social worker and starting this housing accompaniment program, but there is always more need.”

Two clear lessons Diane has learned from her leadership of Nourish Babylon is to trust in the people she serves and to trust in God’s abundance. Many of the guests who come to Monday dinners have unfortunately become accustomed to not being treated with dignity. Particularly, those suffering with addiction are denied many social services, and Diane had to decide how Nourish Babylon would respond to this group. She reflects, “Is it reasonable for us to ask people addicted to alcohol to show up to Monday dinners sober? No, it’s probably not. But we can ask them to elevate their behavior to be in community with us. We have a strict no drug or alcohol use policy during dinner, but we also won’t deny people a meal because of their addiction. This is part of upholding their dignity.”

Diane has also learned that trusting in God’s abundance allows her to press forward through the many challenges that arise. “I used to become stressed over seemingly minor inconveniences—such as a few volunteers not showing up to Monday dinners. But somehow, God always provides—always persevere. When I get a phone call about a problem, very often, the next phone call is a solution. It’s made me laugh and feel grateful. It reminds me that God is stewarding our work.”

La Iglesia Episcopal de La Gracia en Muncie, Indiana, ha sido ubicada en el sureste del Centro de la ciudad de Muncie por los últimos 140 anos. A través de los años, el área alrededor de la Iglesia ha cambiado, y la Iglesia de La Gracia también, tras participar en varios proyectos vecinales y al generar muchas iniciativas de voluntariado, incluyendo su programa de alimentación, la “Gracia que Alberga”, la cual comenzó en el año 2008. Antes de la Pandemia, sirvieron más de 100 comidas caceras todos los domingos. Cuando la Pandemia empeoro, no fueron capaces de continuar administrando dichas comidas en persona, pero ello no se interpuso en la repartición de estas. Los voluntarios entregaban una ración de comida cacera cada domingo en un saco el cual incluía un emparedado para ingerir en horas posteriores como merienda, al igual que una botella de agua para su hidratación debida. El promedio era de alrededor de 70 comidas por semana y para ello se necesitaba un personal de seis a diez voluntarios ayudando todos los domingos. El Reverendo y Doctor Paul Jacobson, el rector de la iglesia, cree que la reapertura de la parroquia para la comunidad es el trabajo más importante que la parroquia efectúa.

Para evitar que esta tan encomiable iniciativa fuera cancelada por el Departamento de Salud (el cual consideraba a estas comidas como parte del abastecimiento de la iglesia, aunque cada una de ellas era servida al público en general), cambios fueron requeridos a la estructura de nuestras instalaciones. Hubo discusiones que se originaron ya años atrás acerca de la posibilidad de construir una cocina comercial. Dos parroquianos, Kristy Koriath y Sandra Kelly, lideraron la investigación de posibles subvenciones para este proyecto antes mencionado. El proceso se llevó a cabo durante varios años. Pero cuando las subvenciones se hicieron disponibles, las cosas empezaron a moverse rápidamente, y la decisión fue tomada para el inicio oficial del proyecto en cuestión.

Al comienzo de octubre del año 2019, la parroquia recaudo más de $170,000 a lo largo de 15 meses. Ellen Brinkman lidero la campana para recaudar el capital que, al fin y al cabo, junto a las subvenciones de la diócesis y aquellas aportada por la Fundación Ross, fue como se pudo llevar el proyecto a consecución. En agosto de 2020, la construcción comenzó, y fue concluida en noviembre de 2020.

En marzo de 2021, el equipo de la cocina de “La Gracia que alberga”, liderado por los parroquianos Connie y Joe Turner, empezaron a cocinar comidas en la nueva cocina comercial. Seis parroquianos más y amigos se certificaron en las lides de manejar las comidas, y muy a menudo al menos cuatro de ellos son vistos cada domingo fungiendo como voluntarios. Los costos de las comidas son pagados por las donaciones a la iglesia, y también por las donaciones que algunos restaurantes llevan a cabo para con el proyecto. “Tenemos la visión de que la cocina comercial pueda ser utilizada para muchas cosas más que solo el programa dominical “La Gracias que alberga,”, dijo Mary Mordue, miembro del equipo de cocina quien también ayudo a aplicar a las subvenciones y otras formas de recaudación. Posibilidades futuras de cómo puede ser utilizada la cocina comercial van desde servicios alimenticios, clases de comida, a espacios para alojar a emprendedores que deseen trabajar en el campo de servicios de comida. Pero de momento, la meta principal del programa es la de lidiar con la inseguridad alimentaria.

Barbara Wills y su esposo Phil estuvieron entre los primeros voluntarios. Barbara charlo sobre los aspectos de la hermandad y la bienvenida, las cuales se sienten de manera palpable entre los voluntarios y las personas que se benefician del programa. Ella dijo, “Yo pienso que las personas se sintieron muy seguras y abrumadas de manera positiva, sin distingo quienes sean y lo que hayan hecho. “Si no estás dispuesto a hacer eso, no va a funcionar” (Barbara también fue nombrada o galardonada como “Mujer ejemplar” 2022 de la Diócesis de Indianápolis.)

La Iglesia Episcopal de La Gracia ha escogido permanecer en el centro de la ciudad de Muncie en vez reubicarse a los suburbios, para abrir una cocina comercial y la estructura que ella encierra para alimentar a los hambrientos, a realizar un cambio concientizado para darle la bienvenida a los necesitados, y a estar abiertos a lo que la voluntad de Dios quiera de nosotros y por último florecer donde nos hemos plantado.

Enviado por Mary Mordue Lisa Matucheski Diócesis de Indianapolis

Grace Episcopal Church in Muncie, Indiana, has been located in the southeast area of downtown Muncie for 140 years. Through the years, the area around the church has changed, and Grace has changed, too, by participating in various neighborhood projects and generating many outreach programs, including its feeding program, Gathering Grace, which began in 2008. Before the pandemic, they served more than 100 hot meals every Sunday.

When COVID hit, they were unable to continue sit-down meals, but that didn’t stop them from giving out hot food. The volunteers hand out a hot meal in a sack every Sunday and include a sandwich for later, plus a bottle of water. They average about 70 meals per week and have anywhere from six to 10 volunteers helping with the meal each Sunday. Rev. Dr. Paul Jacobson, the church’s rector, believes that opening the parish to the community in this way is the most important work their parish does.

To avoid this outreach getting shut down by the Health Department (which had been graciously considering these “church meals,” even though each one was being served to the public), changes needed to be made to the building. There were discussions beginning several years ago about the possibility of building a commercial kitchen. Two parishioners, Kristi Koriath and Sandra Kelly, spearheaded the investigation of potential grants for this project. This process took a few years. But when some grant monies began coming in, things happened quickly, and the decision was made to go ahead with the project.

Beginning in October of 2019, the parish raised more than $170,000 over 15 months. Ellen Brinkman led the capital campaign, which was how most of the money was raised, along with grants from the diocese, the Ross Foundation, and Indiana Landmarks. In August of 2020, construction began, and it was concluded in November 2020.

In March 2021, the Gathering Grace cooking team, led by parishioners Connie and Joe Turner, began cooking meals in the new commercial-grade kitchen. Six parishioners and friends became certified food handlers, and often at least four of them are volunteering at each Sunday meal. The meal costs are totally covered by parishioner donations and sometimes food donations from restaurants/caterers. “We do have visions that the kitchen might be used for more than just the Gathering Grace Sunday meals,” said Mary Mordue, one of the cooking team who also helped apply for grants and other fundraising. Future possibilities for ways the commercial kitchen could serve the community include offering food service, cooking classes, and incubator space to those entrepreneurs wanting to work in the field of food services. But right now, the program’s goal is to address food insecurity.

Barbara Wills and her husband Phil were among the founding volunteers. Barbara spoke to the aspects of fellowship and welcome, which are strongly felt between the volunteers and the people they serve. She said, “I think the people that came felt very safe and welcomed, no matter what they had done or no matter who they are. If you aren’t willing to do that, it isn’t going to work.” (Barbara was also named the Diocese of Indianapolis’ 2022 Distinguished Woman.)

Grace Episcopal Church has chosen to remain in downtown Muncie instead of moving to the suburbs, to open a kitchen and building to feed those who are hungry, to make a conscious effort to welcome all people, and to be open to what God intends for us to do and to bloom where we were planted.

Submitted by Mary Mordue

Nuestra iglesia está pasando por cambios. El primero de ellos es que nos estamos adaptando a estar en el medio de una pandemia, y el siguiente de los cambios, es que pasamos por un proceso de transición para darle la bienvenida a la nueva sacerdotisa. Nuestra nueva sacerdotisa apoya el ministerio de Mujeres de la Iglesia Episcopal y conmina al comité del Obispo junto al Grupo de Mujeres de la Iglesia Episcopal a continuar en la búsqueda mas allá de la misma iglesia para servir a la comunidad y sus necesidades. El Ministerio de Mujeres de la Iglesia Episcopal consiste en un grupo pequeño de mujeres dedicadas a esa tarea de manera exacta.

Tras indagar nuestro Ministerio de Justicia a fondo, hemos aprendido que en nuestro condado el hambre es la necesidad más grande. Incluso antes de la Pandemia, uno de cada cuatro niños y uno de cada siete adultos se van a la cama hambrientos en el condado de Pinellas. Desde el inicio de la Pandemia, la inseguridad alimenticia ha afectado a familias que nunca habían experimentado ello anteriormente. El hambre y la inseguridad alimenticia se mantienen como una prioridad dentro de nuestra comunidad.

Decidimos de esa forma que lo arriba mencionado era un problema que teníamos que corregir.

¿Pero cómo un pequeño grupo de mujeres y una iglesia del tamaño de una familia pequeña podría alcanzar y tener éxito de manera continua a aquellos que dentro de la comunidad sufren de inseguridad alimenticia a gran escala?

Coincidentemente, el hijo de la secretaria del obispo y la presidenta del ministerio de Mujeres de la Iglesia Episcopal tomo un trabajo recientemente con una organización sin fines de lucro llamada “Alimentando a la bahía de Tampa”. Ella nos dijo que la organización antes mencionada provee y distribuye bolsas de comida libres de cargo a aquellos en necesidad. ¡Tenemos un contacto!

Presentamos nuestra propuesta para asociarnos con la organización “Alimentando la bahía de Tampa” a nuestra sacerdotisa, y ella se mostró emocionada y dispuesta a participar y apoyar nuestra iniciativa.
La presidenta del Ministerio de Mujeres de la Iglesia Episcopal contactó a su hijo, e inmediatamente establecieron una estación de distribución en nuestra iglesia. La iniciativa “Alimentando a la Bahía de Tampa” provee la comida, y nosotros, junto a los voluntarios, empaquetamos y distribuimos la comida, además de controlar el tráfico. ¡Imaginate – todo esto fue gratis para nuestra iglesia y comunidad! Lo único que tuvimos que hacer fue proveer el espacio y voluntarios.

La propiedad de nuestra iglesia tiene entradas para coches accesibles en cada lado, permitiendo así el fácil acceso para entrar y salir de los mismos, al igual que puestos de estacionamientos asequibles. La iniciativa “Alimentando a Tampa” llega cada jueves con el vagón de su tractor lleno de frutas frescas y vegetales, pan, leche, un tipo de proteína, etc., para distribuirlo a nuestra comunidad. Recolectamos con sus voluntarios y empaquetamos toda la comida en bolsas. Nuestros clientes manejan con sus vehículos, y les colocamos las bolsas de comida, dependiendo de lo numeroso que fueren las familias, en el maletero de sus carros. Al asociarnos con la iniciativa “Alimentando a a la Bahía de Tampa” cada mes, nuestra iglesia, junto con el Ministerio de Mujeres de la iglesia episcopal, distribuyen entre 6,000 a 9,000 libras de comida fresca a los necesitados. Nos estamos volviendo conocidos en la comunidad como una iglesia que ayuda a aquellos en necesidad.

Nuestro Ministerio de las Mujeres de la Iglesia Episcopal apoya el programa significativamente. Mantenemos nuestro ministerio de mujeres de la iglesia episcopal relevante al apoyar todos los programas que nuestra sacerdotisa y otros miembros del “Buen Samaritano” puedan crear. Al trabajar juntos para alimentar y servir a nuestra comunidad, buscamos mantener nuestra reputación en la palestra y ser “Buenos Samaritanos” como nuestro nombre lo indica. Adelante al Ministerio de Mujeres de la Iglesia Episcopal.

La iglesia del Buen Samaritano, Clearwater, Florida