WASTE HUNGER, NOT FOOD DOES MORE THAN FEED THE HUNGRY A STORY OF TWO FRIENDS & 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.

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

of the people living at The Towers. Darlene, though knowing God at a young age, was not a believer when she began serving with Jenni in Waste Hunger, Not Food. A handful of painful memories from childhood and then a broken marriage in her adult years lead her to place of anger. She was simultaneously wanting to help people while holding resentment and anger towards God and the church. “I was angry at everyone,” she says.

Enter Jenni. A woman after God’s own heart. A seasoned servant of the Lord who believes we need to bring “church” to people. Not the other way around. Jenni saw something in Darlene. She saw a place of brokenness that was desperately crying out for help and didn't know it. She saw that Darlene was lost.

“She was gentle in inviting me to come to church. She didn’t force anything. If she had forced it on me then I would have taken 3 big steps back.”

Darlene eventually started attending CityView Church and quickly found a close-knit family. Jenni nurtured a relationship with Darlene naturally. In serving together, experiencing the blessing of blessing others, and becoming a part of each other’s lives, a little door to Darlene’s heart began to open and the Holy Spirit started to move.

Then one day Darlene had found herself at a place of despair and weeping in her car. She was overcome by life’s circumstances and heart broken over the loss of a job title she relied on, so she called Jenni. “Tell me what to do!” old son was hit by a car and endured traumatic brain injuries. “It was all so much. But I wouldn’t have been able to get through it all if it wasn’t for my church. It’s the close-knit family that God knew I was going to need. I would have been suicidal if I hadn’t accepted Jesus a few months before. God knew.”

Jenni explained how God clearly showed her what discipling was about. “I learned that whatever God gives you to do--whether it’s CityServe or Waste Hunger, Not Food--when you bring friends along side you and do it with them, He does the work for you. I didn’t realize it at the time but it’s called discipling. We just had fun together. It wasn’t about me trying to save her or preach to her. I knew she would do the work with me. It was natural.”

If it wasn't for Waste Hunger, Not Food, then The Towers wouldn’t get food to help them make ends meet. But another need was met through the program, unexpectedly. Jenni and Darlene’s friendship was built on serving the hungry, and then used to bring Darlene close to Jesus for a new found intimacy she didn’t know she needed.

“God wanted to put you in His Hands,” Jenni says sweetly to her friend.

Jenni said, “ You need to hang up the phone and cry out to the Lord and ask Him to show you.” So she did just that and found she wanted to ask Jesus to be the Lord of her life.

She didn’t know it but the next few months would bring her the most traumatic experiences of her entire life. In July, her daughter passed away at 37 years old from congestive heart failure. Then in September, her 19 year

They started with two separate agendas and found a friendship based on the saving power of Jesus--a forever friend.

This is the heart of CityServe. Through any program or outreach, CityServe wants to resource churches so they can serve people in their neighborhoods. This opens avenues for long-lasting relationships--bringing people in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Crissy Cochran is a wife and mother of 3 school age children. She is the Good News Club coordinator at a local elementary school and has been attending Canyon Hills since 2003.