Ministry helps residents cope with tough times Shabach feeds the hungry, helps teens find summer jobs

 
Nicole Tucker/The Gazette Gwen Pope (left), program administrator for the Emergency Food Pantry and Closet, and Shabach Community Service manager Leslie Dowtin walk through some of the thousand of bags of food to be donated through Shabach Ministries' grocery bag giveaway in Landover - (c)The Gazette.  

The face of hunger is changing in Prince George's County, says Cynthia J. Terry, president of Shabach Ministries, based in Glenarden. This nonprofit, sponsored by First Baptist Church of Glenarden and others, provides an emergency food and clothing pantry and other services, and its volunteers have noticed a difference in families asking for help since the global financial crisis began.

"This situation has hit families we've never seen before," Terry said. "Due to the foreclosures, whole families are moving in together. You have multiple families in one household, and they're coming to us for help."

Terry has noticed a 40 to 50 percent increase in requests for help as county residents lose jobs or homes, or experience reductions in their work hours. In response, SMI has planned a number of events to assist the community.

Earlier in March, for example, SMI gave away 1,000 bags of groceries. On April 25, the organization will sponsor a food drive, followed by its seventh annual golf tournament on April 27. The tournament, which will take place at the Potomac Ridge Golf Course in Waldorf, serves as a fundraiser for SMI's food pantry.

Meeting residents' physical needs is just part of SMI's goal to serve the community through love and action. To reach out to a new audience, for example, the organization has developed a financial freedom program for those who speak Spanish. Leaders launched this effort after noticing that few Latin-American families participated in SMI's community day in 2008.

"We really advertised throughout the surrounding area, but only two Latino families came out," Terry said. "We found that these families don't know whom to trust."

SMI plans to work closely with area churches that serve Latinos so families in need will gain confidence in the organization.

In addition, SMI aims to target tech-savvy youth by creating Youth for Truth, an online community where young people can connect safely. And through its Youth Employment Program, 14- to 21-year-olds will gain resume writing and interviewing skills as well as a seven-week job with local employers. SMI pays half of the teen participants' salaries.

Nearly 200 youths already have completed applications for summer 2009. Now SMI is looking for employers. Prior supporters such as Chik-fil-A and Shoppers Food Warehouse will team up with Shabach again this year.

"The owner of a refrigeration and heating company just raved about his teen worker," Terry said. "This is an opportunity for kids to discover a career they might want to pursue."

The teens' success, however, depends on how well they display respect, resourcefulness and other aspects of good character.

"Parents can use chores at home to teach these lessons," she said.

These and other services are part of Terry's desire to help create a strong, empathetic community.

"Too many times our neighbors are in trouble and we don't know," she said. "As Shabach helps you, you can help someone else. That's how we develop dynamic communities."

Shabach Ministries

How it makes a difference: This nonprofit provides a range of services for children, teens and families. Shabach's seventh annual golf tournament will take place April 27 to raise funds for its food pantry. To register, go to www.shabachministries.org.