Hungry
WASTE HUNGER, NOT FOOD DOES MORE THAN FEED THE HUNGRY A STORY OF TWO FRIENDS AND UNEXPECTED NEEDS MET by Crissy Cochran Jenni Krippner and Darlene Doughty appear to be the oldest of friends. While enjoying coffee with these two lovely ladies one rainy morning, I watched and witnessed a friendship only God could have orchestrated. Their admiration for each other was immediately evident as they giggled, cried and giggled some more when sharing stories of their outreach adventures. Jenni and Darlene are obviously bonded, but not by years of growing up together in a way you’d assume most close friends would be. In fact, they had only just met each other a few short years ago and this past year connected on a deeper level. Looking back now they see how God was the Mastermind behind it all--planning out each step that would invite them individually, and their friendship, into a deeper intimacy with Him. About three years ago, Darlene, a long time administrator for Toys for Tots, was contacted by Jenni, the children’s pastor at CityView Church, regarding the program. They became acquainted through Toys for Tots, and when Darlene discovered the Waste Hunger, Not Food program-unbeknownst to them-- a door opened leading to a path of transformation.
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Waste Hunger, Not Food is a program of Kern County Public Health that safely rescues uneaten, unopened wholesome foods from school districts, restaurants and markets, and delivers it via refrigerated vans to CityServe churches. Because neighborhood churches are trusted sources in the community, it is the best way to get this good, nutritious food into the hands of those who need it the most. Michelle Corson, the Public Relations Officer of Kern County Public Health, described the passion driven behind the project as they became more aware of the staggering amount of food wasted in school cafeterias and the large number of families that go to bed hungry. It was no surprise Waste Hunger, Not Food would be something Darlene would enthusiastically dive into. “She’s always had a servant’s heart.” Jenni says about Darlene. “I asked Jenni if I could take some of the food to The Towers, a low-income housing facility for the elderly. And she said, ‘yes, of course--it’s an outreach’,” says Darlene. Her routine consists of picking up food at CityView Church that has been delivered from the Waste Hunger, Not Food delivery vans, loading up her car and driving it over the The Towers. “I don’t do it for me. I do it for them,” Darlene says through her tears. “They are so grateful and they tell me all the time. One man was so excited to have milk because he hadn’t had milk for over a month. It’s too expensive for him. When he told me that I truly realized the need.” Michelle Corson explains how the program affects the lives of those who receive the food. “The fact that we are able to rescue such healthy, fresh perishable foods is very unique. That’s why we see so many people crying and so touched. They aren’t used to getting this type of good food,” she said. “Our top priority at Kern County Public Health is the health of those in the community. With Waste Hunger, Not Food we are literally impacting their health. It’s beautiful and unique.” With the food that CityView gets from Waste Hunger, Not Food, Darlene is able to bless 40-50 people twice a month, and sometimes more, by giving them pantry staples such as canned goods, rice, beans, milk, cereals, fresh fruits, veggies, yogurts and pre-made, plastic-wrapped burritos and sandwiches. Darlene saw the need and CityServe allowed her to fill it. But something else was going on behind the curtain. There was something happening in her heart as she stepped into the lives (Continued on page 20)
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