Churches feeding hungry

As the world rallies to the aid of Haitians, several churches in Pasco and Hillsborough counties continue to meet the challenge of helping Florida's homeless and hungry.

Every Thursday night, about 150 people line up at Livingston and Fletcher avenues, north of Carrollwood, to receive a hot meal, clothing, medical aid and conversation with church volunteers. Some of the people come for the meal and clothing, and then leave. Others hang around to socialize while their children join a small group for coloring fun.

"We're here just serving, using what the Scriptures say, to help the homeless, help those in need of food and bread and water, and clothe them not only physically, but spiritually," said the Rev. Kenton Brake, lead pastor at Floodgates Community Church in Wesley Chapel.

It's a team effort, with churches in Pasco and Hillsborough counties joining in. Jay Gunsteens, who attends First Baptist Church in Lutz, selects Scriptures each week and prints them in Spanish and English to be used during the gospel portion of the evening.

"First we share the gospel," Brake said. "We take turns. I do the Spanish part and other people do the English part. Then we feed them and provide clothing. Volunteers come from different churches, all working for the same Lord with the same purpose."

After the meal is served, the volunteers circulate and talk with the people about the Scriptures.

"It helps them to understand what was read and helps them to recognize their need of not just physical food but spiritual food," said Sue Gunsteens, who coordinates the preparation of meals in the kitchen at First Baptist Church of Lutz.

A typical meal includes meat with rice or pasta, a vegetable, bread and dessert, and a bottle of cold water. The bread and dessert are donated by Publix, and the other food items are purchased.

"The funds we have are privately donated," said Troy Stevenson, who oversees security during the evening. "We are running low."

The attendance at a recent gathering was 180 people, up from 130 people the previous week.

Floodgates works with Myrtle Lake Baptist Church in Land O' Lakes to collect and distribute clothing donated by churchgoers throughout the community. Those who need clothing can fill out a slip describing what items they require. The requests are filled at the church, bagged, tagged and await pickup the following week at the Thursday gathering.

The weekly event continues to grow in scope.

"When I came here a year ago, there was only a handful," Stevenson said. "Now we have all these churches that are taking their time out of a busy day to come and help us."

A volunteer representing The Oasis, a ministry of Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, was on hand to offer help and advice to pregnant women or anyone in need.

"We are trying to let the community and people in Pasco County know about this program we have for these young women, especially during pregnancy," said Iris Stevenson, a volunteer. "They do a sonogram for them and let them know; they also give them direction about where they can go for help and lots of other information."

South Side Community Church of Sarasota's Inner-City Medical ministry provides a mobile medical clinic to serve the homeless. They run clinics in Sarasota on Sunday afternoons, in Tarpon Springs on Saturdays, and added the Thursday night Fletcher/Livingston site this past summer.

"We've been providing medical care to the homeless every week for about nine years," said physician Frank Burns. "We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit medical ministry, faith-based."

The physicians see about 18 to 25 people a night and another 10 to 15 who need over-the-counter medicine or advice on how to get health care, blood pressure checks, follow-up care or other issues, he said.

FOR INFORMATION

Floodgates Community Church: Kenton Brake, (813) 389-0238

Myrtle Lake Baptist Church: Peter Castellani, (813) 406-4965

First Baptist Church of Lutz: (813) 949-7495

South Side Community Church, Inner-City Medical: fburns@southshore church.com