Faith in action: Operation Sharing

At workshops and presentations, people often ask me what they and their churches can do to get involved in fighting poverty locally. One of my suggestions is to follow the example of Operation Sharing in Woodstock, Ontario: they got rid of their food bank.

Operation Sharing is a local charity based in Oxford County, about an hour’s drive from Toronto. Operation Sharing is owned and run by local churches, with many different denominations contributing board members, volunteers, donations and funding. It was created over 25 years ago by four local United Church ministers.

Until a few years ago, Operation Sharing operated like many local church charities: they handed out a lot of money and donations of food. But they felt like they weren’t getting good results for their efforts. This led to a re-think of their approach, and the creation of the Food for Friends program.

Food for Friends, like all of Operation Sharing’s programs, emphasizes dignity and respect. Rather than collecting donations of food and forcing poor people to go through the stigmatizing experience of visiting a food bank, Food for Friends collects money from the local community. The money is placed on grocery cards, which are given to families in need who can take them to the grocery store and make their own food choices. The cards can only be spent on non-taxable items, but families are allowed to make their own dietary choices, taking into account health needs and cultural and religious preferences.

In 2009, Food for Friends provided food cards to approximately 2,824 families in Woodstock and 145 families in nearby Ingersoll. A third town in Oxford, Tillsonburg, is now looking at how they can bring the program to their community.

In order to request the cards, families come to a local Meeting Place set up by Operation Sharing. These Meeting Places also serve as drop-in centres where people are free to hang out and talk over a coffee, often leading to a discussion of many non-food related needs.

Relationships: Mutuality and Respect

Operation Sharing also offers a number of other programs targeted to community needs. According to John KleinGeltink, CPJ member and an Operation Sharing board member, Operation Sharing’s modus operandi is relationships. By simply meeting with people and getting to know their needs, Operation Sharing’s staff and volunteers have been able to walk alongside people as they deal with many different kinds of issues. “We recognize that each individual has gifts, and they should be involved in the process of solving problems,” John says.

This approach is highlighted in Operation Sharing’s mission statement, which emphasizes mutuality: “The staff and volunteers of Operation Sharing do not see ourselves as ministering to the poor; rather we work with and among those who are less well off materially than ourselves. We seek to help them but also learn from.”

Operation Sharing also relies heavily on community involvement. Donations for Food for Friends are collected through most major grocery stores in the area, as shoppers are asked to add 25 cents to their grocery purchase to go towards Food for Friends. Other programs depend on volunteers, such as the Christmas Place, which allows low income families to purchase Christmas gifts for families and friends at a low price, and the soup kitchen. Both are staffed by volunteers. And one of Operation Sharing’s most innovative programs, the Extended Family Project, links low income individuals and families in the area with groups who are committed to walking alongside them and helping them as they tackle obstacles in their lives.

The result, according to John, is that the community is more aware of what is happening in its midst and what can be done about it. Part of the work of Operation Sharing is awareness building, with the goal of teaching people what a difference justice could make for their neighbours.

Challenges 

Food for Friends has not been without significant challenges, however. 2009 saw an increase in the number of families needing food cards because of the recession and rising unemployment. At the same time, Food for Friends faced a financial challenge this year. After several years of receiving support from all 4 major grocery stores in Woodstock, Operation Sharing was dealt a blow when Zehrs announced last summer that they were ending their participation. Zehrs collected about a quarter of Food for Friend’s budget previously.

However, the community rallied to support Food for Friends. Sobey’s and Foodland both offered to match donations made over a certain period to help publicize the need for donations. Several local financial institutions also stepped into the breach with donations. As a result, Operation Sharing was able to meet their budget this year despite the demands of the recession.

Christ's Love in Community 

From its creation by 4 churches a quarter century ago, Operation Sharing has grown to be supported by over 40 church organizations in Oxford County today. These churches have made a commitment to share the love of Christ in their community by being present and walking alongside their neighbours, sharing their struggles. Operation Sharing has only four full-time staff; it depends on over 100 volunteers to carry on its programs.

There is still room to grow, John notes. Many churches are still learning what it means to seek justice rather than practice charity, and what it means to respect the dignity of every person. There has been a learning curve for those involved with Operation Sharing.

Still, Operation Sharing provides an amazing example of faith in action and the transformative power of love, acceptance and relationships.