Every week, OBI's Hunger Strike Force delivers an average of 55 truckloads of food and supplies to more than 100 organizations.

Brenda, above, receives bags of groceries that can provide enough food for 3-5 days.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. - Brenda stood in line clutching a plastic bag and searching for people in the crowd to see if she could spot a familiar face.

She pulled her jacket close over her sweatshirt and inched forward as the line moved toward a truck loaded with food and household supplies.

"I have always seen these people out here giving away food and helping others," she said. "I never thought I would need it."

Brenda was at a food give-away held by Lighthouse Mission Outreach, a partnering ministry with Operation Blessing.

"I lost my job and fell on hard times," she said. "I don't take this if I don't need it, but I need it now."

Fortunately, OBI's Hunger Strike Force fleet of tractor trailers is able to help meet needs such as Brenda's by delivering an average of 55 truckloads of food and supplies a week to more than 100 organizations, who in turn distribute to nearly 6,000 U.S. ministries.

For Brenda and others like her, that relief often translates into bags of groceries that can provide enough food for 3-5 days. Last year alone, OBI was able to supplement more than 75 million meals to those facing hunger.

After receiving a delivery of food from the HSF, workers from Lighthouse Mission sort and bag the food. The individual meals are then loaded onto another truck and driven out to various sites.

"Helping meet basic needs was something that grew in my heart," said Lighthouse Mission founder, Elaine Bohrer. "I love doing this."

Brenda said her life is better now that she has food each week. She is also encouraged to keep searching for a job thanks to the volunteers with Lighthouse Mission.

On the morning of the outreach, Brenda and about 50 others lined up with shopping carts, wagons and canvas hand bags along a chain link fence at the edge of a field to receive their food.

"I got trapped in a lifestyle that destroyed me," said Lawrence, who stopped by to thank the volunteers and share his story with the people in line. "If it wasn't for these people giving away food – and hope – I would have been lost forever."

For three months, Lawrence went to the weekly meetings and came home with enough food to feed his children. Thanks to the help of the workers, he found the courage to start a new life in Florida.

"I don't know what I would have done for my family if I didn't have this," he said as tears welled up in his eyes. "I am a new man now."

Thanks to OBI, Lighthouse Mission is able to give away more than 360,000 meals each year. Every week, more than 1,400 people show up to the Lighthouse Mission's food pantry, not including those who attend the six-day-a-week food giveaways throughout the city.

"When you give freely it makes an impression on people's hearts," said Rosa D'Anna, program director for Lighthouse Mission. "We want them to know we care, and always will."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.

 

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