Bread and Coffee

As some of you know, I have a burden to help others. Recently, I have been compelled to help some of the underserved in Lawrence, Kansas. Some folks in our faith-community (University Church) also have this burden. Through their contacts they arranged for us to receive baked goods from Panera Bread on Saturday evenings. This past Saturday we received our first donation from Panera. We received about 45 pounds of bread. We brought it back to the ministry center, sorted it, grabbed the coffee and hit the streets of Lawrence.

We visited a couple shelters hoping that the men and women there could help us locate folks who would be sleeping out of doors. In doing so, we met some wonderful people and heard some of their stories, frustrations, dreams and wants. In good faith we provided bread to the shelters for their Sunday morning breakfasts.

After talking to the folks in the shelters, we went to the places indicated by the men and women we met at the shelters - South Park, the alleys and under the bridge. We left bags of fresh bread where we knew people were staying. We talked to all the folks we saw. All in all, it was a learning experience. One that will help us better know how to serve our community next week.