More than Food Drives

 

 Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.

New Zealand Prayer Book Lord's Prayer Paraphrase


Today the CBC building in Toronto will be invaded by a cheerful horde of listeners, there to support Sounds of the Season, an event to raise money for the Daily Bread Foodbank, Canada's largest food bank. Our three adult kids have attended together in the past and thoroughly enjoyed the day. What is actually a month-long drive raises hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of pound of food for this organization which feeds "food insecure" people in Toronto.

It stands to reason that Canada's largest city also has the biggest seasonal food drive but many organizations including churches, synagogues and mosques gather food at this time of year associated with generosity. I couldn't find the info but I have a hunch that a food bank called "Daily Bread" has its origins with a faith group, likely Christian. 

Here's the thing. Food banks are a worthwhile response to the crisis of hunger in our wealthy country, but they are not the solution. They were meant as a stop-gap measure and have become institutions in so many communities. Sound social policy at every level of government is necessary to address the systemic realities of poverty, which include unaffordable housing and rising food costs.

A couple of days ago Lisa MacLeod, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services/Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, responded to a question in the Ontario Legislature about the Auditor General's concerns regarding poverty in the province. She answered with a stream of baffle-gab, concluding with a call for more seasonal food drives. This is the best she can do? I found it infuriating and one more reminder that this provincial government has little or no regard for those living on the margins. 

I hope and pray that people across this province and country are generous with food and toy drives. At the same time those of us who are Christians can pray "give us this day our daily bread" (I do like With the bread we need for today, feed us better) with a more expansive commitment to making a lasting difference for those who hope for a meaningful life.