We are thrilled to announce the official opening of the Perry Brown Mission Center at Furniture Factory Outlet World in Waxhaw, NC. Servants With a Heart now has a permanent packing facility!

Through the generosity of the Brown family (our partners at Furniture Factory Outlet World and Samaritans International) and other friends, we now have a space where we can pack meals regularly. Last weekend, we opened the PBMC with a great group of volunteers and during the final shift packed SWH’s 20 millionth meal (see photos below and here is a link to a great video about last weekend)!

During this time of Covid-19, most of our regular packing events have been canceled, resulting in a loss of about two million meals that should have been on their way to Nicaragua. While we can currently only accommodate up to 40 people at a time (in socially-distanced family groups or others who have been exposed to one another) at the PBMC, once the virus is gone, we will be able to fit larger groups.

For now, we are packing on most Saturday mornings and will continue to send out emails and post signup information on our social media channels.

In addition, as most of you know, we have never been able to accommodate smaller groups (our minimum for packing events at other locations around Charlotte is 50,000 meals). With the PBMC, your group of 20 or more people can pack meals with us and simply pay for the food you will pack (roughly $45 per person). Please contact us if you are interested in bringing down your coworkers, team, troop, or other group!

“Normal” is a phrase we all hear a lot about these days. We all want to return to daily life before COVID-19; however, adjusting to a new normal is a current reality. Servants with a Heart, like many non-profits, has had to adjust as well. We’ve changed our processes, our location, and our expectations about how many meals we can pack.  

Our typical packing events have been sponsored by a business, church, school, or other organization that paid 15 cents per meal and provided hundreds of volunteers as well as space to pack the meals (a minimum of 50,000 meals at a cost of $7500). This is our cost to purchase raw materials and ship the food (SWH continues to operate at cost, with no overhead). This approach to packing food has not been possible the past few months; however, the need for food is great in our local area and Nicaragua. 

Our partners, the Brown Family from Furniture Factory Outlet World, donated some space at their store in Waxhaw where we tested out a new, socially-distanced form of food packing during the late spring and early summer. These events were paid for with donations received online (a volunteer will usually pack about $45 worth of food during a two hour shift). We have also used this new process with two local churches who raised their own funds; these events took place both in our space and in theirs.

We have spent the last weeks renovating the new location (if you follow us on social media, you have seen photos of much of the work that has been going on, including installing air conditioning!) and are thrilled to announce the opening of the Perry Brown Mission Center at Furniture Factory Outlet World.

Please join us either or both of the next two Saturdays (August 22 and August 29) to help pack food. We hope to pack SWH’s 20 millionth meal on the 29th. The events are free of charge, but we do encourage those able to donate online or in person to help cover our costs for food and shipping. The need now is greater than ever and we want to continue to pack as much food as possible in our current “normal” for families locally and in Nicaragua.

In addition, the Perry Brown Mission Center will be available to “rent” for smaller events—birthday parties, corporate events, church or youth groups, sports teams, neighborhoods, etc. The minimum commitment would be 20 people at $45 per person for two hours. We can accommodate up to 40 people at a time, divided into four groups of 4-6 people, four groups of 2-3 people, and four individuals. Each group needs to be made up of a family or people who have been exposed to one another so we can maintain our social-distancing protocols.

Thank you for partnering with us.

Tyler Reynolds, SWH Leadership Team member

Today’s blog is an update from Patrick brown, who runs samaritans international of nicaragua, where we ship much of our food

Living in Nicaragua has always been challenging for many reasons. During these last few months, as the world has been dealing with the Covid issue, the Nicaraguan government has not enforced any type of standards for protection. We have lost pastors who run feeding centers, as well as people from our local Pochocuape community. Here at our free Christian school, we put together a distance learning program, which may sound easy, but is not! Due to the lack of internet, computers, and smart phones (which our student families cannot afford), we have to make copies of study guides, worksheets, tests and all the other materials needed for education. The students come to our gate on different days to pick up the latest guide and turn in completed work. The teachers are still working from home, so we take all the work to each teacher’s home weekly.

Unemployment was higher than ever after all the political issues in April 2018. Our blessings have continued, however. We have some meat chickens for our family as well as home-grown vegetables from our garden. Our animals have been blessing us with new babies as well as fresh milk. This coming week we will bless many people with two containers of meals from Servants With A Heart, which we will deliver to some of the most rural communities in Managua. 

Thank you to all the Servants With A Heart volunteers—you are truly saving the lives of starving children and families in Nicaragua. Our prayers are with all of you during this hard time. Thank you for your support and prayers!

Love, The Brown Family in Nicaragua

The experience of one of our SWH Leadership team members, Cynthia hair, and her family as they pack food during this unusual time

My family and I have been joining Servants With a Heart packing food while following social distancing protocols. We have loved making an impact during this pandemic by being able to pack food for distribution to people in our area in need. The first event we participated in was just with the leadership team and their families to see how we could pack and maintain social distance from those who were not in our family group. Jeff and Suzanne Yoh, the founders of Servants With a Heart, were packing with their children, too—but keeping a watchful eye on how to improve the process while following Covid19 guidelines. There were some minor changes after the first event, but all in all our leadership team felt like this was something that could be done with success.

Here is how we do it: Families or groups that have been isolating together sign up together. The exact number of people attending is crucial.  Each part of the process has a certain number of people needed to do the job. The first section of the packing process is called the food group, scooping the 4 ingredients into the bag. This can be done with 4 to 6 people; my family got to do this and we had a pretty good flow going even while we danced in our spots to the upbeat music played during the event! The second section is the weighing and sealing process. This can take 2 to 3 people. The third section is counting and boxing, which is usually for single individuals. There is a 6 foot separation between each section, and all participants sanitize hands and wear gloves and masks.

Since the first event, my family and I have been in different sections, depending on how many of us sign up and attend. I am planning to bring my 3 year old granddaughter to the one coming up—she can help me with weighing the bags by scooping a spoonful of rice into a bag or taking a spoonful out of a bag, depending on if the weight needs to increase or decrease after all the ingredients have been added at the food group section.

I am very thankful that there is a safe place to serve together with my family during this crazy time as we all navigate what our new normal will be.

Cynthia Hair

servants with a heart has been distributing many meals in the local Charlotte area during this difficult time of COVID-19 — Below is some information about one location that has been especially impacted

Refugee Support Services is a 501(c)3 nonprofit post-resettlement organization that helps newly-arrived refugees — and those who have been here for years and may even have become U.S. citizens — make Charlotte their new home. The mission of Refugee Support Services of the Carolinas, Inc. is to facilitate programs and intercultural relationships that promote refugee self-sufficiency and enrich our community. We aim to connect refugees to the greater Charlotte community by facilitating reciprocal relationships between refugees and Americans through the Fruitful Friendships Program, teach self-sufficiency skills to refugees, empower them to thrive in American society through our various programs, including Refugee Help Center sessions, educational programs, and occasional special events.

Currently, Charlotte is home to over 17,000 refugees and former refugees from all around the world.  Charlotte has been receiving refugees from such countries as the Central Highlands of Vietnam; Nepal (folks of Bhutanese-Nepali heritage); Burma (currently called Myanmar); African nations: Eritrea, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda; Iraq, Afghanistan, and most recently, Syria.

With our weekly Wednesday food distribution program, we collaborate with a national food rescue organization, Society of St. Andrew, to provide fresh and nutritious produce to refugee families.  On occasion, we get donations from other area organizations, church garden ministries, and individuals.  As part of the distribution program, we work hard to educate refugee friends in language skills and other important information.  In normal times, we serve 30-60 refugees each Wednesday; during this pandemic, during which many families have lost one or both incomes through unemployment, we are serving 110 refugee families each Wednesday.  We are so appreciative of the meals that servants with a heart has been able to provide us during these challenging times!

Marci Mroz, General Program Coordinator, Refugee Support Services

In the hustle of our every day, it’s easy to push aside thoughts of tomorrow and thoughts of others, especially those less fortunate. While the intention is not to disregard, we simply live in a world that doesn’t allow us to slow down long enough to look around and take in the needs of our surroundings. However, that is just an excuse, the reasoning we make in our heads to appease the guilt. The truth is that the choices we make are all intentional: where we go, who we see, what we eat, what activities we participate in. I made excuses for myself for years. I didn’t have the time, the money, or the skills. However, I have found these are all lies. There are constant opportunities to serve others every day; I simply need to intentionally choose to do so. It’s difficult, and I am certainly in no way perfect at it, but in recent years God has laid it on my heart to do more. 

One way I have truly loved to serve has been through the food packing event Servants With a Heart and Jenkins Restorations hold each December. Not only is this a fun way to join in fellowship with co-workers and others in my community, the food we pack for the families in Nicaragua makes a real difference. After several years of participating in this food packing event, I was ecstatic to get the opportunity to fly to Nicaragua and experience the other side of the event, distributing the food we packed to those in need. At first, the decision was difficult to make, with personal challenges causing me to question whether I should make the trip. In the end, I knew I was being called to go.

I set out with no expectations. Servants With a Heart had a plan in place and our group met several times to familiarize ourselves with each other and learn what we needed to know about Nicaragua. I felt anxious and excited as I boarded the plane, even more so when we landed. After a smooth exit through customs, we were there. I was there.

Our first stop was to a community dump, where families worked every day, including their small children, collecting items that could be recycled for money. That was how those families survived. It wasn’t lucrative work – it was dirty and dangerous, but to those families it was normal and how they earned a living.

When we arrived, there was already a group leading the people in songs of worship. We got off our bus and were instructed to disperse throughout the group. In those first moments, all I could do was look around and take it all in. Some were singing; some raising their hands in praise. Many were watching us as we moved throughout their group. It was surreal, but there was no time to hesitate – everyone just had to jump right in. 

We joined the group in singing and when it was finished, the local pastor called on anyone who wanted prayer to come forward. People came forward and requested prayer for everything from blessings to relief from medical pain. We then put our hands on the people and prayed over them. Once the prayers were finished, we distributed the food and toys.

As the families gathered their food and toys and headed back to their homes, I began to take a closer look around. Everywhere I turned there were mounds of trash. It was all over the ground, everywhere you stepped. Families were gathered on some of the mounds, surrounded by bags of plastic. Some had animals, all as undernourished as their owners, their skin dry and tight around their rib cages.

As I processed everything my eyes were taking in, I wondered what my purpose would be on the trip. What could I possibly have to offer? I was far removed from my comfort zone, but as I looked around, my heart softened. I watched the children, the joy they exuded, and knew I would do whatever was needed of me. I resolved to allow myself to be guided by Christ and not be afraid to do things I had never done before.

There were countless opportunities to act on my resolve. Whether it was praying over people I just met, singing songs in an unfamiliar language, or leading our team’s devotion, I intended to live out every calling God laid on me. I walked away from the experience in awe of God’s grace and wonder, how He could use me in ways I never imagined by just letting him take the lead. By being intentional in letting go and serving in any opportunity that arose, I was able to see Him work not only in the lives around me but my life as well. I learned so much from the people I met in Nicaragua. It was an experience I will never forget.

rebekah Zahory, Jenkins restorations

I am Arturo Soriano III, son of Jenkins Restorations employee Arturo Soriano. I am a 10th grader at Gonzaga College High School, an all boys Catholic school in DC that encourages service. We have opportunities to go on service trips and have a homeless shelter and food pantry on our campus called the Father McKenna Center. In December, I packed food for Servants with a Heart with my dad and other Jenkins employees, and this food typically goes both to Nicaragua and the Carolinas; however, my parents and I thought that we should bring some back and give it to the McKenna Center the next time our family served at its hypothermia program. On Thursday February 13th, we worked at the Center and donated the food for the food pantry. The Center’s pantry is open to all homeless people around the area and Gonzaga students help with the pantry during lunch periods. The hypothermia program is more limited as it involves housing people for the nights in winter. As a result, the Center’s hypothermia program is limited to only men and they must actively want to get out of homelessness. The McKenna Center funds therapy for those suffering from addiction in the program; however, if the men continue to abuse substances and themselves, then the shelter cannot house them. The center is strict and disciplined as we want to help those who want to be helped. If there are men who continue bad habits, then someone who follows good habits would not have this opportunity. The pantry is open to all men and women, regardless of whether they were turned down for the hypothermia program. We were able to share food with those in and out of the program and it was a great experience!

another field report from our partners in nicaragua, Samaritans international…

She is Mayra and she is 28 years old.

Mayra is from a community in Managua called Las Hamacas and she has 5 children. She was 15 when she had her first child, and her kids are now 1, 4, 7, 9, and 12 years old.

She is a single mother and loves to take care of her children. The day we made the delivery to this community, she was waiting anxiously for us to give her a box of Servants With a Heart food. Mayra shared with us that receiving this box of rice is a great help for her and her children. It is difficult for her to go out to work because she does not have the support of someone to take care of her children while she works, and in the community where she lives the distances between places are long and difficult.

So this blessing represents one of the main sources of food for her and her children, and she is very grateful because there is no other help for her community. She wants God to bless all the people that make it possible for this food to get here!

Here’s another update story from our partner, Samaritans international of Nicaragua

Several months ago, we had the opportunity to make a donation to the volunteer fire department of Managua. Through Samaritans International and Servants With a Heart, the Lord provided 600 boxes of food and the fire department received nearly 130,000 meals. 

The eight fire department locations around Nicaragua form the volunteer fire department federation serving these communities:  Chinandega, Leon, Carazo, Masaya, Rivas, Boaco, Estelí, and Matagalpa. The food was distributed according to need.

David Castillo, a volunteer firefighter, shared with us that on distribution day, there was a cooking demonstration to teach how to cook the food correctly. They prepared two different meals: Chinese Rice and soy meatballs. Neighbors and the volunteers from the fire department attended the demonstration and learned how to use ingredients like tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, celery, and soy sauce. Once the training finished, they ate the prepared food and everything was delicious...it was a successful moment!

“I love to cook this food by myself...I prepared it with onions and tomatoes...I buy some tortillas and then it’s enough for dinner...very nutritious!” (testimony of Yodelvi Tercero about his experience with the food that has been a blessing for the fire department)

The fire department in Managua was founded on September 15th, 1936 and it is a volunteer organization. It aims to prevent fires and reduce fire risk; to save lives and property of people who are affected by different natural, accidental or intentional events; and to protect the environment. 

Its job is done without discrimination, ensuring an effective, efficient and high-quality human service based on technical and scientific knowledge. It acts with a dignified, courteous attitude and adheres to the constitution and laws of the Republic of Nicaragua.

The firefighters thank Servants With a Heart and its volunteers for their help, and hopes that god blesses them all!

Another update from our friends at Samaritans international of Nicaragua…

She is Flora Guadalupe López. She is 8 years old and lives in Catarina, city of Masaya. 

Before being blessed with Servants With a Heart (SWH) food she could not support the weight of her body and was without strength—she could not even hold her arms up. Last February, she started eating a diet based on SWH food, and by June—just 5 months—her advances were significant. Jesus performed a miracle in her life! She can support her body and take steps with her walker. Flora can sit in a chair and turn her head and she also smiles now. Her parents and little sister are very grateful to God.

We can say with confidence that the vitamin rice that God has brought to this family from SWH has been a great help with her nutrition, growth, and physical development.

In Flora we see a cheerful girl, full of light, and this is a great blessing for her family. They are very grateful first to God and then to Servants with a Heart for the food aid that has been provided and hope to continue receiving meals!