You Give Them Something to Eat
An Oasis in South Dallas
And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”
The Bible gives us many calls to serve others, and Jesus modeled this in His life perfectly. What can a servant of God learn from Jesus’s order to the apostles to feed His followers?
Feed the body and the soul
For those outside of South Dallas, the primary issue a food pantry addresses seems to be food insecurity. While that’s true, the South Dallas Community Market (a partnership with Brother Bill’s Helping Hand) seeks to address much more. The Market is a haven of dignity, a welcoming atmosphere where all that matters is that you are a neighbor that God brought through our doors.
The provision we need isn’t food alone, and the problems we can solve extend beyond a free meal. Local access to free food can mean a neighbor doesn’t require a bus pass to reach a store or help a neighbor cover important bills with money they would’ve spent on groceries. Most importantly, the Market can provide a space to love and be loved by others.
God gives all people dignity. None are better than others in His eyes, and any of us could be in a worse position tomorrow than we’ve been before. With that understanding, we can feed more than just the body when we serve.
God is with us in the desolate place
We have all experienced that downtrodden, less-than feeling that comes from being excluded from the joy and thriving of others, and this can bring insecurities we don’t even know are there. These can become generational insecurities if someone is made to feel like they’re out of reach of the love of God and others.
Our neighbors aren’t at fault for issues in their community where systems of prejudice create real trouble for racial and socioeconomic groups. Residents don’t cause these problems, and are, in fact, the very ones who create improvement through their undying hope.
We serve a community filled with families that love and take pride in their neighborhood. Any idea that South Dallas is home to victims who don’t strive to be active members of their community is false. Broken systems are an oppressive force and for most of our neighbors this is not a story of being the product of a bad environment.
For those that know nothing but Bonton+Ideal, the Market is a welcome addition, and seeing their neighbors fed for free is a gift. They feel the love of God and share it with their neighbors.
“This is my home. I’d rather [volunteer] for them than for anybody.”
– Bonton Resident
God provides for our neighbors in all places, and much of that provision comes through their own hard work, determination, and commitment to their community.
God’s provision can come from what we have
Bonton+Ideal is an enterprising neighborhood; they’ve bloomed throughout decades by way of resourcefulness. They’ve made a life while being denied the resources they deserve and in so many ways, they are overflowing with lemonade where once there were lemons.
The fact that this neighborhood is sustaining is a testament to a resilience that many other communities haven’t required. Committed to thriving in their own home, the difficulties they face don’t rise to define Bonton+Ideal– which is instead a rare culture of welcoming and joyfulness.
What should outsiders think about South Dallas? Ask those that live here, and ask what you can do to help. Be a part of the good going on here! Don’t judge from the outside, but let the insiders be your guide. This community is filled with joy, laughter, and hope. The South Dallas Community Market was built by our neighbors’ hope and can be seen as a response to their work.
Bonton+Ideal can be considered a food desert, but through the grit and commitment of our neighbors, it’s starting to feel more like a food oasis at the South Dallas Community Market.
