Saint Sabina’s ‘Operation Hope’ feeds 2,050 people

Father Pfleger: “The poor are not invisible and we will love them always”

 

By Chinta Strausberg

 

Community residents began lining up around BJ’s Market & Bakery at 79^th and Racine long before the 3 p.m. starting time on Tuesday so they could be the first to get one of “Operation Hope’s” 2,050 free hot dinners sponsored by the Faith Community of Saint Sabina and its partners.

But, to some, the face of hunger has changed because it is no longer just the poor who are hungry. Given the tough economic times, it also includes the middle class and the working poor, according to John Meyer, the owner of BJ’s Market & Bakery where the second annual “Operation Hope” food giveaway took place.

“We enjoy this. We enjoy giving back to the community, and we look forward doing this every year,” he said.

Meyer supplies the work staff for this event along with the other sponsors including Linda Johnson Rice, chairman of Johnson Publishing Company and her CEO, Desiree Rogers, Terry Peterson, vice president of Corporate and External Affairs at the Rush University Medical Center, Father Michael L. Pfleger form the Faith Community of Saint Sabina, and Melody Spann-Cooper, president of WVON radio.

This year joining Linda Johnson Rice, Desiree Rogers and Terry Peterson as servers were CPS/CEO Jean-Claude Brizard, his wife, Brooke Stafford Brizard and their 2-year-old son, Silas. They helped to serve the 2,050 people who just kept filing through the restaurant with some opting to eat at the tables.

Also present were Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown and Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-16^th) who greeted the residents as they entered. WVON radio station was there to give live reports along with several TV stations.

But, it was the Saint Sabina choir that rocked BJ’s with a medley of gospel songs so much so one man took off his coat and started shouting, and Father Pfleger danced with a senior citizen and began clapping his hands to the music. It was a mini church service at BJ’s, a spiritual happening with a lot of well-fed and happy people looking on.

Linda Johnson Rice, said, “I think this is terrific…working with Father Pfleger and Saint Sabina giving away chicken dinners and ham dinners for people who are a little disenfranchised. It’s a great way for them to have a great healthy meal and really enjoy the holidays and really sort of jumpstart what I hope is a happy and healthy holiday for them.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of this and to represent Johnson Publishing Company, Ebony and Jet Magazines, Fashion Fair Cosmetics, our entire family. We’re thrilled to be a part of this.” Rice said she’d be back next year.

Rogers said, “It’s so fabulous to share a holiday spirit. One woman said ‘can you just give me a hug’? It’s been a hard year for folks, and I think it is good to come out and share a little cheer, a little food and some great music. We’re delighted to be here.”

Tuesday was the first time serving for the “Operation Hope” food giveaway for Brooke Stafford Brizard, the wife of Jean-Claude Brizard. “This is incredible,” she said of the number of people who kept streaming into the restaurant.

“This is an incredible community in the city, and it’s nice to be a part of it,” she said.  Her husband said the event was “great and historic,” but to Meyers and Pfleger the 2,050 people who came for the dinners is a sign of the times that clearly shows the face of poverty has changed.

“It feels good to do this especially this time of the year and because of the economy,” said Meyers. “The face of hunger is changing. It’s different this year.  It means more to us because it was a rough year for us this year than last year, and we love giving back to the community.

“It is no longer the poor who are hungry,” he said. “It’s the middle class, the lower middle class. People are going without so it’s important that we can do this one meal a year to help out some of the families in the community,” said Meyer.

Peterson said, “This is our second year of doing this and I am thankful for Father Mike who suggested that we do it for a second year along with Linda Rice Johnson, Desiree Rogers, and Rush University Medical Center.

“We have gone over the number of people we fed last year. We are at 2,050. Last year we did 2,000 which goes to show you the need that exist out here in the community,” said Peterson.

“To have an opportunity to see the kids and the seniors to have the opportunity to get a good dinner is just rewarding, and I am thankful that I was able to be a part of this with Father Mike,” Peterson said.

Just arriving from Springfield, Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-16^th) said, “It is important to serve our constituents and those who are the most worthy and most vulnerable in society especially at this time of giving.

“It is not about the gifts that we receive. It is more about the gifts that we give because we know that God is the perfect gift and the perfect giver, and we need to reflect that out of our faith traditions and what it means to be representing His ministry to those who are most in need,” she said.

Referring to Jesus, Collins added, “He didn’t stay in church within the church walls or the synagogues. He was out with the people, and I think this is the opportunity to show people that we stand for more than a building that is located in a community and that our ministry is outside the walls and we know what their needs are. We try to meet them the best we can. I am proud we were able to serve over 2,000 families today,” said Collins.

After four-hours of greeting people, Pfleger thanked all of the sponsors; the staff of BJ’s and the Faith Community of Saint Sabina and said “Operation Hope” is special to him.

“To me it was feeding people who needed a meal. It was supporting an African American business in the community, and it was letting people who feel forgotten in this country right now, the poor, know that we are not only going to feed them but we care about you. You are not invisible to us,” said Pfleger.

“We love you and we’re going to continue to care about you, and we want to put your face out there and let everybody know, don’t forget the poor. There is more than enough food and there is more than enough housing. We just have to stop being so stingy with it,” said Pfleger.

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.