Even in a pandemic, food ministries bring people together

Food ministry still brings people together

Our café, market, and pantry have adapted and flourished

Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced us into isolation in midMarch, the food ministries at St. Stephen’s followed a predictable By Anna Jones rhythm: seven days a week, friends gathered in the café to talk over coffee, breakfast, and sandwiches. Some lingered for hours to work or read, and parishioners stopped by daily after Morning Prayer or yoga. On Wednesdays and Sundays, many more gathered in the fellowship hall or on the lawn for community meals lovingly prepared by volunteers. On Saturdays, hundreds returned to the fellowship hall, often accompanied by their dogs, for the indoor, winter farmers market, once again connecting with friends and strangers over food. These ministries were a source of community, nourishment, education, and fun for many. Then, in March, our lives turned upside down and our food ministries had to adapt.

The pandemic has been a stark reminder for many of us that human beings are social creatures who need each other, and the food ministries here have responded. The café took a hiatus to rethink and regroup, and then opened in April for simple curbside pickup twice a week. Since then, the café has become an outdoor gathering space, open five days a week with coffee and new menu items. An expanded patio allows for physical distancing, and café staff follow all guidelines for masks, gloves, and handwashing to ensure safety as much as possible. Friends are able to see each other in person once again, some for the first time in months. The café provides a safe place to get out of the house and see others in person, not just on a computer screen. While safety is taken very seriously, the café is also glad to provide a greater sense of normalcy for its customers. Those who enjoyed the Wednesday and Sunday suppers can still dine together, albeit on a smaller scale, outside the café.

The farmers market’s mission to connect community members with fresh, local, sustainable food had only intensified during the pandemic. Customers are not able to bring their dogs or relax over cups of coffee at the market now, but the market has shifted to being an essential service for the community to safely shop for groceries in an open-air environment— an alternative to crowded grocery stores. The market has stayed open weekly, except for one week in mid-March. This has been a difficult time for many small businesses, who have had to close temporarily or permanently. The market has been an important way for customers to support the dozens of small, local businesses who vend here and need customers more than ever. In fact, many vendors reported recordbreaking sales in the early weeks of the pandemic, as many customers stocked up on fresh produce, meat, and prepared items. The coronavirus pandemic has also revealed the dangerous working conditions of some meatpacking facilities, which were hotspots for COVID-19 outbreaks. Shopping at the market allows customers to support smaller cattle, pork, and poultry farmers who operate safely, as well as to have the peace of mind that their meat has not been produced at the expense of someone’s health.

Since our food pantry continues to provide much-needed support to those who had come to rely on us before the pandemic, we are especially grateful that our farmers are here to donate unsold produce, eggs and other fresh, local foods to augment the non-perishable items parishioners donate. Not surprisingly, the need for our food pantry has only grown as the economic impact of the pandemic has affected our community. Before this crisis began, our food ministry was a web connecting people, producers, and food in a variety of life-giving ways. It still is.

As the world adapts to norms such as keeping physical distance, wearing masks, and using more caution in general, food ministries at St. Stephen’s are adapting, too. We have found our stride in community, safety, and joy: safe food production, safe gathering spaces, and the joy of connecting over good food. ✤ Anna Jones is the manager of the Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s and a barista in the Café @ St. Stephen’s. Previously she worked at Shalom Farms, a local ministry that provides produce to those in need.

Top photo: Our farmers market; below: food pantry distribution