Setting the Table for All

9 When you harvest your land’s produce, you must not harvest all the way to the edge of your field; and don’t gather up every remaining bit of your harvest. 10 Also do not pick your vineyard clean or gather up all the grapes that have fallen there. Leave these items for the poor and the immigrant; I am the Lord your God. ~Leviticus 19:9-10 (CEB)

An Invitation to Celebrate

Next week, CB Fridges will be celebrating the launch of the community's first 24/7 fridge. Currently, the folks here at Broadway are beginning the work of learning, donating, and serving. As we do, we prepare ourselves for early next year when we anticipate hosting a location in our parking lot. 

Megan Wilson, event coordinator for CB Fridges, invites all of us to join them for their Community Launch Celebration on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Timothy Lutheran Church (3112 W. Broadway). According to Megan, "since launching in July, CB Fridges has operated as a grassroots, zero-barrier community resource dedicated to reducing local food waste and expanding access to fresh, healthy food across Council Bluffs. Through partnerships with Saving Grace, local businesses, faith groups, and organizations, and with the help of our dedicated volunteers and neighbors, our neighborhood fridge is restocked daily. It serves as a dignified bridge connecting surplus food directly to local families. We plan to install three additional fridges across Council Bluffs over the next several months to ensure food access reaches even more of our neighbors."

The launch event on October 15 will highlight how the community fridge model works, celebrate our local partners, and explore ways residents and organizations can support our neighbors. Please RSVP to Megan at meowproductions2@gmail.com.  And if you can,  bring a non-perishable item for the pantry.

Seeing the Impact

Last week, Lori spoke with Nancy Ruffcorn, who leads the Timothy Lutheran team. We had some items to donate and she was more than happy to stop by and pick them up. Lori had this to share about their conversation.

I had the opportunity to meet Nancy Ruffcorn from CB Fridges/Timothy Lutheran Church.  We discussed hunger in our community and the impact the fridge at Timothy Lutheran is making.   

Nancy told me a story of a gentleman who stopped by with a wagon and took several meals & items from the fridge; he told the volunteer that was there that he had teenage boys at home and just can’t keep them full.  

As we begin this partnership at Broadway, I think there are some things we need to keep in mind…...we are a SITE for the CB Fridge project, we are here to fill the fridge with food to help those in need (and maintain the site).  We are here to offer support for these folks, not to judge them by the amount of food that they take or to train them to only take a little bit & remember others.

Remember, you can contribute as well.  We hope to partner with some businesses near us to help keep the fridge stocked.  If you have questions about how you can help, please contact Teresa (teresaf@broadwayunitedmethodist.com), me (office@broadwayunitedmethodist.com) or CB Fridges at 712-642-1015.

At the September meeting of CB Fridges, I had the opportunity to meet with other community partners who are getting fridges (All Care and Lakin Campus) and others who work alongside folks experiencing food insecurity. Nancy shared with us the story of a busy day keeping the fridge and pantry stocked. As she returned at the end of the afternoon to fill things up, the only thing left available were some pies that had been donated by a local store. An unhoused gentleman came to the shed looking for something to eat. Nancy told him how sorry she was that there were only pies available at that time.  He responded with gratitude, saying it was better than what he could find in the dumpsters.

Letting Go

Folks, I want you to know that I have some issues with control. I have worked hard to let things go when my expectations aren’t met or the ‘rules’ aren’t followed. And, letting go means I have to recognize and think through my initial emotional response when I witness something I judge as unfair. The voice in my head reminds me I don’t know someone’s story unless I talk with them. I can’t and shouldn’t assume the size of the family or how they might be reaching out to others.

Community food sources address several issues. There are also many who just simply aren’t paid enough for the work they do to keep up with their housing and utilities costs while feeding their families. And yet, they show up for work. Their employers may not allow them a schedule that allows visits to the pantries when they are open. Community fridges and gardens now give them access anytime.

It has been pointed out to me that Old Testament laws that forbade gleaning the corners of the fields (see Scripture reference above) are there so the hungry and displaced people could have the dignity of finding food on their own. 

Nancy has shared that having three other community fridges in Council Bluffs will not change the demand on their pantry. What we don’t know is how more fridges will affect the supply. I feel it’s time for me to step in and be the change needed for these times, no matter the amount of time and resources I can give. It’s time to set aside my judgments that come from my own fear of scarcity and find the faith to keep trying until there is more than enough for everyone.  Because, you know what?  When I look inside my own barn, I see more than I could ever need.

Join Lori and I at Timothy Lutheran on Thursday, October 15th at noon to see and hear how this project is working in the lives of our neighbors.