Ending Hunger | A Community Giving Network

The Mustard Seed Community Food Bank emphasizes that "food is not wasted, and the community loves to share." Hualien's first "community sharing refrigerator" was available on January 28 this year. The Zhen Guan Church of Xincheng Township serves as the community's common good service base. Zhen Guan Church connects the caring shops and neighbors who are willing to donate steamed buns, bread, fruits and vegetables, etc., to help people in need in the community.  This is also a great way to promote the concept of sharing, moreover, to care for the neighborhood, making the community a warm place.

In 2017, the Mustard Seed Mission (MSM) was promoting the establishment of a community food bank with the concept of "no food wasted and build a hunger-free community network".  Subsequently, MSM gave the brith of community food bank, aiming to undertake the food originally to be discarded and turn it into the needs of others.

Pastor Qiulan Chang, who initiated the Community Refrigerator, shared the story. There are many older Aboriginal widows living alone in Kerry Village. Their children are working away from hometown. These women are financially difficult with shortage of daily supplies. Pastor Chang recalled to learn on one of the TV programs talking about the idea of community refrigerators. She was thinking that since others can do it, we should do it too!  Seeing many needy families in the community, Pastor Chang believes the church should play part to respond the needs and quickly contacted the Mustard Seed Mission for the setup of community refrigerator.

With the help of the community's good refrigerator, Pastor Lu Acai, the husband of Pastor Chang, further devoted in community service.  Pastor Lu Acai, from Ami tribe, was once a recipient of the Mustard Seed Mission. Together they serve the Kerry villagers, to help more neighbors in need.   Through such initiatives, they hope the people here are able to meet the basic needs of life.

The collection of materials in Hualien area is not easy. The community's good refrigerators were successfully launched and received answers from three local caring stores. During this period, there were more inquiries and participation from the community. We hope that more local forces will support the "Hunger Free Community Network," and  the idea of "Not wasting food".  We encourage more people to join the ranks of caring.