Photograph: courtesy of Fred Nachman
Author’s Note: If you only read one post of mine this year, please let it be this one. Thank you.
In case you aren’t familiar with this venerable Chicago landmark, this is the Fourth Presbyterian Church on Michigan Avenue. The congregation was founded in 1871 and moved to its present magnificent site on the Magnificent Mile at Chestnut Street in 1914.
Historians will note that except for the old Water Tower, Fourth Pres is the oldest building on Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River.
And it’s where the Ernie Banks visitation was recently held.
Check it out.
Photo: courtesy of Fred Nachman
Since 1914 more than eight million people have entered its hallowed halls. Two thousand people worship here every Sunday.
And some of them are hungry.
Every Sunday night at five, dinner is served in Anderson Hall. About one hundred and fifty of Chicago’s neediest citizens- the homeless, the mentally-challenged, the disaffected, the lost- are fed a really great meal.
I’ll let Fourth Presbyterian explain why:
“At Fourth Church, we place a high priority on nurturing a sense of community among guests, volunteers, and partner organizations as we live out our mission to be a light in the city.”
And this past Sunday, I was one of the lucky volunteers that helped out at the dinner.
I wasn’t going to write about this. After all, isn’t there something in the Bible that says, “When you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing?”
But this past Monday night, my friend, the beautiful Susan Ifergan put up a story on her Facebook page that really made me think.
Susan’s social conscience had been aroused by the following injustice. She had posted an NBC News story by Bill Briggs that reported that more and more American cities are blocking individuals and ministries from feeding homeless people in parks and public squares.
People are being ticketed for offering this charity to the needy.
The article goes on to say that to date, thirty-three Red State cities have adopted- or are considering- such food-sharing restrictions.
Here’s the article in full, if you’d care to see what Susan posted.
For shame.
I only wish that some of these mean-spirited people who are behind this despicable movement could have been with me this past Sunday.
I arrived on the rainy afternoon at 3:45. The old pro volunteers- Norman, Sarah, Lynne, Pat, Scott, were already there and they showed Mira- a darling young newly-wed newbie- and me the ropes.
In the huge church basement, the tables had already been set with pretty table clothes and cheery vases of flowers. The food would be coming in later. Tonight’s meal of pasta with meat sauce, salad, green beans, bread and a chocolate bar dessert was going to be provided by Chicago’s Temple Sinai.
Ecumenical Sidebar: Next week’s meal is being catered by Glencoe’s North Shore Congregation Israel. Clearly, the act of charity is not the exclusive province of any one single denomination- or religion.
As the cold rain pattered on, people started drifting in. Then it was our job to give them iced tea or water, and make sure their glasses were refreshed as they waited patiently for dinner.
I’ve never waited tables before and I got the biggest laugh of the day when I came up to a group of guys who already had cups. Instead of saying something politic like,”Can I refill those, gentlemen?” I thoughtlessly said, “Who needs something to drink?”
It brought down the house.
I laughed at my blunder and quickly said, “Let me rephrase.”
But it was too late. All the guys good-naturedly hooted and demanded beer or Scotch.
It was on-the-job training.
Norman opened the proceedings with some announcements. Medical help and counseling would be available upstairs to any who needed it. Then with a brief prayer, dinner was served.
The numbered tables were called by random, and the men and women politely waited their turn to come through the chow line. Mira and I handed out the trays and the flatware.
I took my cue from Mira. She was chipper and beaming. I tried to follow in her footsteps when it was my turn to greet the guests.
Temple Sinai had provided food in abundance, and even without a miracle of loaves and fishes, there was plenty for all. “Seconds” was announced.
Most of the people came through the line again.
By 5:45 it was all over and we proceeded with the clean up. I took some people’s trays and empty cups, but for the most part, the guests did all their own table-bussing and garbage-tossing.
The room was then broken down and the tables and chairs stacked against the wall in a flash.
Gracious thank you’s, farewells and promises to come back were tossed around as everyone prepared to go back out into the still-pouring rain.
(I paused when I saw women asking for large garbage bags. I knew why they wanted them.)
I was privileged to take part in it all.
A very small part indeed.
Isaiah says “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house?…And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday.”
Thanks to all at Fourth Presbyterian Church. You really turned up the Light.
And thanks, Susan.
Amen.
Very moving, Ellen.
Thanks, Professor. (And isn’t young Hank Fonda the greatest? What a speech.)
As Larry David would say, “pretty, pretty nice! “
Thanks, ML. A compliment and a LOL this morning. Pretty nice yourself.
Very moving narrative, Ellen. Thank you for writing it. When I read the passage from Isiah, I instantly heard “All You Need Is Love” playing in my head. I’ll keep that with me all day. Thank-YOU for inspiring me!
So glad you approved. And when I think of you I hear “Michelle, ma belle.” Kisses to all your gorgeous clan. Thanks for being my muse.
Inspiring! We should all do this…
You’re so right, Vivien. It was a case of “it’s more blessed to give than to receive” for me. Whatever the guests got out of the dinner, I got so much more. Thanks, my friend.
Honored to have my photos with this great post. We served at the Monday Meal at Temple Sholom when we were members, which also included helping with the Christmas dinner at the Peoples Church on Lawrence Avenue. As you noted, it’s a very humbling experience.
Fred, this is a mutual admiration society. You are better than the Bettman Archive. Your photographs made this post. Kenny just texted me that you should work for Getty Images. And yes, being able to serve on Sunday was a real teachable moment. Thanks and may I say, “Bless you!”
Ellen, Ellen, Ellen……..What can I say??
The article by a left-wing NBC contributor implies that the “mean, disgusting, rotten” RED STATES are blocking individuals and ministries from sharing and distributing food to the needy.
In fact, it is the CITIES and COUNTIES run by DEMOCRAT governments in those red states that are doing the blocking.
It is because the governments in those cities believe and WANT GOVERNMENT-RUN agencies to care for those in need. Those GOVERNMENTS believe that they can do a better job than PRIVATE citizens, churches, synagogues or charities to help the needy.
It is also a fact that RED STATES (conservatives) donate more of their time and money to charitable causes than BLUE state liberals.
Isn’t it strange that the welfare and food stamp rolls have more than doubled since Barack Obama has been in office….going into his seventh year? A direct result of his backward economic policies!
Isn’t is sad that this is the slowest economic recovery (less than 2% growth) since WWII? A direct result of Barack Obama’s economic policies!
So please, call me before you write such controversial accusations.
Besides, why take the word from a network (NBC) that has on its payroll such race baiters, Jew haters and tax evaders such as Al Sharpton and Melissa Perry?
Anyway, thanks for giving some of your time at the Fourth Pres. Church!!
Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, it is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for me to sneak this post by you without a comment. I publish it in the spirit of Article 19 in the Declaration of Human Rights.
Nice blog, Ellen! I, too, served food to the homeless at 4th Presbyterian with Chicago Sinai a couple years ago. Sinai does this the third Sunday of every month. It’s so easy to take what we have for granted. The recipients are so appreciative and grateful for this service!
Thanks, Pete. Chicago Sinai does a wonderful job with this community outreach. Glad I could be a small part of it.
The gift of food is quite important under such circumstances, but so is the gift of laughter. Bravo! And thanks for the memorable clip from “The Grapes of Wrath”.
Your’e so welcome, Jay. And I’m so glad you liked the clip. It’s special I think.
Myself and my family have also served food for under privileged kids at the church and also have done some tutoring. I have no doubt we got more from it than we gave. We learned first hand that these kids were first and foremost, just kids. But the baggage they carried was often times overwhelming.
It’s a win win for everyone so I recommend people contact the Fourth or other similar institutions. You won’t regret it.
Good advice. Thanks for mentioning the disadvantaged kids. What could be more heart-breaking than that? Nice to know you and your family help out.