Most true heroes do not seek fanfare. They just go about doing noble work whether people notice and clap for them or not. Yet we want to identify real heroes and cheer for them.
Allow me to bring to your attention a group of people who are doing some of the noblest work possible. Not so you can cheer for them, but so you can give thanks to God for them and pray for them. The people I am talking about are the teachers and caregivers of the nearly 9,000 children we are helping daily.
Most Feed the Hunger food is shared through what we call feeding programs. FtH feeding programs are based in non-public schools where children whose families can’t afford public school tuition attend. These students come from impoverished families, but through the feeding programs they can learn about the God who loves them, enjoy a nutritious FtH-supplied meal, and do their schoolwork.
These feeding programs are an extension of the local church. Most often, these churches convert their place of worship on Sunday to a place of learning Monday through Friday. The teachers who work with the students are dedicated to the welfare of their pupils and display rare perseverance.
For starters, many of these teachers and caregivers are very poor themselves. They live in the same poor communities where their students live. The teachers don’t have a salary – their pay is meager and inconsistent. Many of them are hungry themselves, but they do get to enjoy a daily FtH meal just like their students.
Most lead a classroom without electricity and must open the windows just to let in vital sunlight. Their classrooms often have dirt floors. During downpours, rain comes in through the windows, washing mud (and sometimes sewer runoff) across the floor. The classrooms do not have a television or a dry-erase board. Most have a blackboard, but often there are no erasers or chalk.
Some teachers have up to 50 students in their class. They have no lesson plan books and very few textbooks; in fact, most students share textbooks with classmates. There are no charts hanging on the walls to help with phonics or writing, no access to flash cards to practice math, and teachers don’t have a planning period to take a break from instructional time and prepare for the next class.
Teachers in these feeding programs have it tough. They are under-resourced and over-stressed. So why do they do it? Because through it all they are greatly impacting the lives of students who otherwise would go without an education. Many of these teachers believe this is God’s calling on their life: that they would influence the next generation and help transform their country. They desire that their students grow up not only with an academic foundation, but more importantly, with a strong character to help lead their country out of the corruption and poverty that enslaves their people.
These teachers love to see their students grow in faith in Christ. They share their love with the students and rejoice in seeing them learn and embrace hope for a brighter future.
The teachers in FtH feeding programs are unsung heroes. They receive little notoriety, yet are essential to helping the children whom you also assist through your support of Feed the Hunger. We invite you to thank God for these unsung heroes as often as you think of them, and pray that they would not tire of doing a good work. I know God is well pleased with them and will reward them richly for their service unto Him!
Scott Hahn | Packathon Director