Season 1, Episode 4 with Jennifer Brady of Oasis: A Haven for Women and Children

Dear listeners,Reminder! Get your Hunger for Righteousness reading calendar here.Jennifer Brady and I had an eye-opening conversation about food insecurity, food pantries and soup kitchens on this fourth episode of the Hunger for Righteousness podcast series. Jennifer is the executive director of Oasis: A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson, New Jersey. Oasis started off as the only soup kitchen in Paterson that served children, so mothers would bring their children to Oasis for a hot meal. Over time, Oasis began to grow more programs to serve this population, including a complete afterschool program for children, and for the adults ESL, G.E.D., and other classes. I learned from Jennifer that the leanest period for food pantries is right now—right now, as churches prepare for the Lenten season. As I write in chapters 2 and 3 of Hunger for Righteousness, one of the purposes of fasting during Lent is to give to others from what he have saved while abstaining from food. So the food pantries should be overflowing right now as we prepare for Lent. If they are not, shame on us.On the podcast, Jennifer also told Claudia’s amazing story. I have the honor of meeting Claudia myself, because she is a recipient of the Michelle Sous Foundation Paterson Scholarship (I am a board member of the Michelle Sous Foundation). To support the work of Oasis, visit their website here:To support the Paterson Scholarship Fund through the Michelle Sous Foundation, click here:If you are looking for a local food pantry to support, or you are need of the services of one, check out the Foodfinder app: Thank you for being part of this community!Phoebe Farag Mikhail Get full access to Being in Community, Phoebe Farag Mikhail's Newsletter at phoebefaragmikhail.substack.com/subscribe