The United States is considered the wealthiest country in the world. (Wikipedia)
Yet, food insecurity is happening in every county in the nation.
Money talks. In the United States, income is related to food insecurity. Without money, people go hungry. (Chen, JH., Wu, CF. & Jin, M. How are Income and Assets Associated with Food Insecurity? An Application of the Growth Mixture Modeling. Soc Indic Res 165, 959–973, 2023.)
The United States is currently experiencing the rising cost of food. In 2023, more than 50 million people relied on outside charitable food assistance to fill out their meals. 14 million were children. (Feeding America)
In 2022, the number receiving food assistance was 49 million. (Feeding America)
Food costs are predicted to continue rising. (Nerdwallet)
Factors affecting food costs (USDA):
· COVID setbacks
· The Avian flu
· A higher cost of living
· Wars
· Political disturbances
The National Center for Health Statistics reported in 2022 that rural counties account for 84% of child food insecurity.
Food insecurity, a stomach without food, affects children differently than adults because they are still developing and growing. As a result, kids will face important and continuing issues related to schoolwork, physical development, and behavior.
What affects the children, affects the whole community.
The children of today are the next adult generation of the church. They must be protected. God has a plan.
“Our Community Table with Smokers” Kelly Jadon, 2025
In Martin County, Florida, Our Community Table (OCT) has a legitimate 5-year track record for reaching children, especially those in rural areas who cannot come to feeding centers, food pantries and other charitable locations. The food must be taken to them.
Every Saturday morning, dedicated OCT volunteers use commercial-grade smokers and grills, to fresh-cook main courses, such as homemade meatloaf with baked beans, at The Grace Place Church property in Stuart, Florida.
Afterward, the meals are packaged and delivered by teams to 12 locations around Martin County. Between 1,800 and 1,900 meals go out every Saturday morning.
Greg and Debbie Waid
Greg Waid, founder of the OCT charity, states that individuals from approximately 20 churches participate in the ministry. To date, OCT has served over 350,000 meals in Martin County.
Our Community Table is a model for feeding hungry kids across the country.
What makes this ministry work? The keyword is “unity.” With unity comes organization. With unity comes respect. With unity comes purpose and fulfillment of God’s plan.
Our Community Table’s Greg Waid, says, “more involvement is now needed.”
The Scriptures state, “’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’” (Malachi 3:10)
The church today is the temple of the Lord. It must be physically maintained, just as the temple of the Old Testament was kept up through tithes.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1Corinthians 6:19)
When Jesus returns, He will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat.” (Matthew 25:34-35a)
It is the duty of the church to feed its own. “Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14)
The children of today are the church. They must be protected.
Our Community Table is dedicated to ending hunger in Martin County, Florida. Waid states, “You can help feed a family of three for only $5.91. Would you commit to helping one family with a weekly, biweekly, or monthly donation?”
Beyond the tithe, volunteers of all kinds are needed as more stations are developed for food distribution.
Our Community Table pays no salaries; it is strictly volunteer-based. There is zero waste. The food runs out every Saturday. 100% of tithes go directly into the ministry to the people---the children. Most importantly, this ministry is built on the Lord Jesus and prayer.
As this happens in Florida, it is happening across the nation. Food banks and pantries need to be refilled. Rural routes for food delivery need to be established. Monetary donations—a part of the tithe, must be given for food to help hungry children.
You matter. As you help the children in your own county, you will help yourself. Please, be generous. Give the children something to eat.
Come and see what God has done in Florida. Come and see what God is actively doing in Martin County to end hunger.
More about Our Community Table: