Valdosta Street Feed takes ministry to the streets of Lowndes County

By Allison Lindsey

Henri Nouwen once said, “Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless. Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.”  

Sandy Bonner experienced this depth of compassion for the homeless and vulnerable population living in her community in Valdosta, Georgia (Lowndes County). She gravitated to those she felt were overlooked and not seen right in her own backyard.

“So many of our homeless friends feel unloved and abandoned,” Bonner shared. “They have their own story, as we do, and our homeless friends need to be given the chance to tell their story.” 

What began as a simple, organic desire in which Bonner was seeking a way to serve both God and the vulnerable population in her community has flourished into a vibrant ministry in a very short period of time called the “Valdosta Street Feed.” 

Early last Fall, Bonner began following the group “Thomasville Street Feed,'' which is located less than an hour away. She then began asking friends and family about similar resources currently available in her community. She found support in place for the homeless on the east side of town, but surprisingly lacking on the west side of Valdosta. 

One morning after the worship service at Bemiss United Methodist Church, Bonner mentioned the concept of Street Feed to her pastor, Rev. Jerry Hudson.

“(Rev. Hudson) joined me in pursuing a meeting with the organizer, Chad Thomas, of the Thomasville Street Feed,” said Bonner. “We then met with the organizers and other interested people from Valdosta and scheduled our first Street Feed for October 30, 2023.”

Bonner and others then put plans into motion. 

“God has worked tremendously through Sandy, and she has done an incredible job from the get-go,” said Rev. Hudson. “She genuinely has a heart for ‘the least of these’ in our community, and it shows in her dedication to this ministry and, especially, to those who participate. She's not there just giving out food. She's conversing with people, learning their stories, connecting, and praying with them.”

The African Proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”  

Since the launch of this ministry, Bonner will be the first to tell you she has not been alone. For the first feeding event, the Thomasville Street Feed group came alongside to serve, also offering donations of tables and camp chairs. There were also 6-7 volunteers from Valdosta providing hot food, snacks, fruit, drinks, ice and all the serving supplies. The Valdosta Street Feed has been supported by community organizations that work with the area’s homeless population as well. 

Since the end of October, the Valdosta Street Feed has gathered every Monday - including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day - from 4pm - 6pm to serve food to their guests along with  lots of love, hugs, and sharing the love of God. The donations continue to roll in from individuals, and the very diverse group of volunteers continues to grow weekly. 

“I can honestly say this is one of the coolest and most meaningful ministries I've been fortunate enough to be a part of,” said Rev. Hudson. “It's one thing to host a food pantry at church - which is great - but it's a whole other ballgame to intentionally go out to the people where they are, on their turf so to speak. 

“Getting to know folks by their first names, watching volunteers be moved and motivated by nothing but pure compassion, taking the love of Christ beyond the walls of the church - that's what we're seeing at these street feeds. A number of individuals in our Bemiss UMC family routinely participate in the ministry, and every one of them will tell you they've never experienced anything like it,” shared Rev. Hudson.

Relationships with the weekly guests of the street feed and the volunteers serving are a blessing for all involved. One volunteer purchased a bicycle for a homeless friend to have transportation to and from work. Another weekly guest was provided with a tent and sleeping bag. As relationships are built and stories are being shared, volunteers are learning of real needs and are able to meet their new friends where they are with what they actually need most. 

With temperatures dropping to dangerous lows during the month of January, Bonner and the Valdosta Street Food volunteers have found it even more important to continue these feeding events. 

“This afternoon's street feed left me without words and an overflowing river of gratitude,” said Bonner of the recent feeding event on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. “Our amazing volunteers showed up with plenty of delicious food and lots of clothes, jackets, shoes, and blankets - and a new tent for our Mr. Elton. Our guests showed us so much gratitude and appreciation. What a wonderful trip we're on with our amazing God!” 

If you are interested in information on starting a Street Feed in your community, you can reach the Valdosta Street Feed group by email at valdostastreetfeed@gmail.com.
 

Allison Lindsey is a member of St. Mark UMC in Douglas, Ga. and chairs the Conference Nurture Team.