“Something prompted me to take the time to get to know this woman, a stranger.”

A Knife’s Edge

“We were volunteering in another country and were getting ready to come home,” Jason said. “It was our last day there and I was thinking of all the work we had accomplished over the last week. That was the moment a profound thought came to me.”

That was the moment of a life changing message, “There is a lot of work to do where we live!” That prompting changed Jason’s, and his family’s, life forever. And, it has transformed the lives of thousands more over the last three years.

“We came home. My wife and I sat down together. And, we looked at our grocery budget. It was $800 per month at the time.” He said. 

They decided to take a “knife” to their grocery budget right then, while sitting in their kitchen. They made changes as to what they were purchasing, so they could also feed people in need, where they lived. The Maxwell family decided to eat differently so they could donate their grocery savings to others in need. And, it also made a difference in what they were eating.

They made the choice to focus on eating fresh produce, nutritious food at home. And, it really made a dent in the cost of their food. They knew it would make a difference to the people in their community, if they donated the same, high quality, healthy food to those in need. It was a personal choice and they followed it up with more impactful action.

They invited others in their circle to so the same. Now there are several families partnering with them to make a difference. And, what a difference it is. They’re donating between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds of fresh produce to 1084 families, 3067 individuals, from their pantry truck every Thursday. 

“One Thursday I handed a food package to a woman, who stepped had up to me. Something prompted me to take the time to get to know this woman, a stranger.” Jason said as tears welled up in his eyes. So, he pulled the woman aside to hear her story.

She told him that she’d been awakened in the middle of the night, not many days prior, to find her boyfriend, of five-years, abusing her daughter. She gathered her children, at that very moment, and left in her car. They’re still living in that same car.

Jason filled her car with gas and food.

“She taught me about courage, strength and resolve,” Jason said. “Her actions showed me what it means to have bravery enough to give up everything in order to protect the most vulnerable. I understand the definition of resolve now, even if it means living life as if on the edge of a knife!”

Jason and his friends are a sheath on such a knife, a barrier between it and those who need help. They are the feet and hands of those amongst us who need sanctuary and food.

Watch me on American Dream TV

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