Buckets!
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” ~Luke 6:38
April 1, 2020
Buckets? Yep…buckets! This word so aptly describes many things about Café Central yesterday. First off that we served a “bucket load” of chicken. With the COVID 19 pandemic, we are unable to welcome our patrons inside, however we are providing “to-go” boxes. We handed out 665 lunches yesterday in addition to 500 desserts and 180 loaves of bread.
We have also been partnering with the Macon Food Bank since 2018 to have food boxes available for our patrons every other week. Yesterday we had a “bucket load” of food delivered. It was then boxed and distributed. To receive a box, our patrons fill out a form, drive through a line and we put the box in their car. Yesterday’s totals were approximately 290 forms representing about 500 boxes and almost 800 “household members”.
Our volunteer staff did a “bucket load” of work with limited hands. Just for comparison purposes on a normal day of serving, with the addition of a food truck, we have approximately 60 volunteers. Yesterday we had 19 due to the “social distancing” and “group gathering” ordinances. God is good and everyone got served. We even had a few donations in the offering “bucket”.
Amidst all of the process, procedure and pandemic, we also got “buckets” of rain. We got through most of the serving time before the skies opened up but needless to say, we were a little soggy when it was all said and done.
Here’s the most important “bucket” I thought about yesterday…our metaphorical “bucket”. Through this new “normal”, people’s buckets are drying up. Our buckets are being filled with the unknown, fear, depression and isolation causing emptiness in our spirits. This kind of emptiness can only be filled with encouragement, love, hope, faith, kindness, service and support from others. God created us to be relational. This realization reminded me Cafe Central truly is a place people come for more than food. Yesterday as the parking lot filled up with hundreds of “bucket” seats, people began to talk from car to car, hollering across a crowded parking lot. “Hey Boo!”…“How’s everyone doing?”…“Y’all doing alright?”…”How you holding up?” Some even got out of their cars to go visit with others. Social distancing was maintained, so there was still no hugs, handshakes or high fives, yet I could see “buckets” being filled everywhere. I saw laughter, singing, praise, dancing, smiles, service, kindness, gratitude and grace.
There was “good measure” as we were “pressed down and shaken together”. Buckets began to “run over” and be “poured into” others.
I’d like to encourage you to find hopeful, loving, joyful ways to fill your “buckets”! Fill them with laughter, singing, praise, dancing, smiles, service, kindness, thankfulness and most importantly… grace. “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Until we “read” again…God Bless!
We welcome you to help us with our mission!
Give through our website: https://cafecentralmilledgeville.org/give/
Or mail a check payable to: Cafe Central 500 Underwood Rd, Milledgeville, GA 31061
Stephannie Shelton
Stephannie and her husband Doug have been volunteering at Cafe Central for 6 years. They moved from Colorado to Milledgeville Georgia in 2015. That year during Sunday service, the announcement that Cafe Central needed extra help for their Thanksgiving service, brought them for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. They have now served weekly since January 2016. Doug is the volunteer coordinator and member of the Cafe Central Board. Stephannie just likes to talk to, and about, the “family” Cafe Central has become.