BASIC STAPLE FOOD
THE HOPE BOX LIST

FIFTH GRADERS TAKE FOOD
HOW GOD USES IT

THEY WILL BE BLESSED TOO
REMIND OTHERS

When Margaret and I delivered food to Mrs. Nellie Navarro on S.E. 23rd, we remembered Ed Bailey, our star Hope Box person. 

Ed died in 1993. His mother in Union City, OK, has continued his tradition of donating a Hope Box every month. For six years, every month Ed purchased food for a needy family. 

Now I think of Ed and his generous spirit every time his mom brings her food. I gave her an "out" recently, but she said, "Oh no, I don't mind driving in with these sacks of food. Besides it helps keep the memory of Ed alive. "He loved the Lord, and enjoyed doing the Lord's work to help the poor," she said. 
ED BAILEY

A Hope Box is $50 worth of the most essential non-perishable food. Several families donate one every month. Some donors just bring the food to IHNM for us to deliver. Ed never liked to actually go out with the food, and neither does his mother. 

Others, however, will purchase the food then get a name from IHNM. and deliver it to someone's home. It's a good way to get acquainted. Today as I chatted with Mrs. Navarro after carrying the bounty of food into her home, I mentioned Ed. And I remembered, that Jesus said giving money to the poor builds up treasure in heaven (maybe groceries counts too). Ed built up an abundant treasure. Now he is enjoying that treasure. And his mother continues to build up hers. I personally take that statement of Jesus literally. Makes me wonder why hordes of Christians don't want to be generous with the poor. Guess they don't believe it. 
--D. E. Stribling  . . 

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. —Isa 11:3-4 

". . .for he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help." 
Ps. 72:12 The Hope Box is a way for you to be part of the "deliverance." 



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1. Purchase items from the list, or take them from your own pantry shelves.

2. Store them in two or three sacks, or in a sturdy box. 

3. Inform your compassionate ministry group that you have food ready to deliver. 

4. When you receive a name and address of a needy family, go with a partner to deliver the food. 

5. You may, instead, take the food to your church, or ministry office. 

LEARNING TO LOVE THEM IS GOOD TRAINING.
The Unlovables
At the outset, when my wife, Margaret, and I went to homes of people who had asked for food, we became disillusioned. The responses of some were disappointing. Some seemed ungrateful. The question of worthiness came to mind. 

Were our gifts being wasted, we wondered. Then God showed us a shocking truth. 

We were the unlovely ones—full of judgment, and criticism; expecting "something" when Christ himself, said give, expecting nothing in return. Our gifts had strings. We had not learned to love unconditionally. 

The Holy Spirit convicted us, showing us that we needed to change. Stop being like the "ungrateful servant." Show God's grace, forgiveness, and mercy to those we had previously judged to be unlovable. 

The old questions of who is worthy, and how often to give assistance have been narrowed down to just one question. WHAT DOES THE MASTER WANT IN EACH SITUATION. 

When His servants allow His Spirit to transform them from the ways of the world, they begin to know His will, and become more useful to others (Romans 12:2). When Mary and Joe request assistance one time, or if they ask a dozen times, my part is to turn their request over to God, then prayerfully expect God to give direction. It may not be immediate, or as clear as we would like, but He will creatively prompt us—nudge us, excite us, or pull us back according to His plan of action. Learning to love the unlovely is excellent discipleship training.    BACK TO THE TOP

The Hope Box List
[ To Print THE GROCERY LIST 
go to THIS LOCATION] 

Suggested Items

2 cans of meat - Armour’s chopped beef, Dinty Moore stew, or tuna. 
4 cans of vegetables 
2 cans of soup 
2 boxes of macaroni and cheese dinners 
1 lb. Rice 
1 box of cereal - 20 oz (or oatmeal) 
1 box of powdered milk - 10 oz. 
2 boxes of Jell-O 
1 jar of peanut butter 
1 can Crisco 
2 lbs. Of sugar 
2 lbs. Of flour 
1 jar of Tang breakfast drink 
1 box of crackers 

Toothpaste, Laundry soap, toilet tissue, shampoo 

Optional Items:

Cookies, cake mix, coffee, soft drinks, Kool-Aid, aspirin, etc. (other items of your choice). 

Today in your city someone needs your love. But our need to love them may be the greater matter.

"What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Luke 3:10-11 (NIV) 

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 (NIV) 

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 2 Cor 8:12 (NIV) 

And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isa 58:10 (NIV) 

Remind Others How To Be Blessed

Since it is more blessed to give than to receive, suggest that relatives, friends and co-workers give a Hope Box. Encouraging one another to do good deeds will glorify God. 

In 1986 Ed Bailey purchased food for his first Hope Box. For more than six years he gave one every month. Seventy-six families had a chance to know the love of Christ through Ed’s diligence. He usually enclosed an envelope with at least $10 in it.