The Banquet Offers Much!

By Austin Wiebe

"Ask 'How many could you eat?' not 'How many would you like?'" Carolyn explained.   We were nearly ready for the first guests to arrive and she was reviewing last minute kitchen instructions with the servers. "Adults and high school kids can have two sandwiches; children can have one. You have to decide whether they're in high school or not," she told us. It suddenly occurred to me that something that seemed as cut-and-dried as feeding the hungry could be much more complex.

Twenty-seven James Valley Christan School students, four teachers and two parents traveled to Sioux Falls to serve at The Banquet. Mr. Friesen took a small group of student council members in the morning to begin preparing the food, and the rest of us followed later in the afternoon. We had the opportunity to volunteer for various tasks such as serving food, welcoming guests, wiping tables and filling drinks, among other jobs. We were assisted by three staff members and a handful of local volunteers. Before the guests arrived, we had a time of devotions and prayer for our hearts and those of the guests that would visit that evening. When the door closed, we had served a total of 340 people.

Though it is best known for the daily meal it provides for all ages, The Banquet offers much more for the needy people of Sioux Falls. Donations from local businesses and individuals make it possible for The Banquet to offer hygiene items, reading materials, school supplies, and other miscellaneous items to guests free of charge. Bakeries such as Panera Bread and Breadsmith deliver bread for guests several times weekly. Local florists donate flowers for the tables. Recently, Gold 'n' Plump donated an entire truckload of frozen chicken.

In the four years that JVCS has sent groups to The Banquet, we have had the priviledge of watching the ministry grow and improve. In 2006, The Banquet moved to a new, larger location on 8th Street. Unlike what you might expect from a so-called "soup kitchen," The Banquet's new facility is bright, clean and welcoming. The kitchen has state of the art food preparation equipment, and the dining room is organized to efficiently serve people. The building is equipped with a welcoming area and children's room that allow guests to wait in line indoors, safe from the often unfavorable weather. The Banquet serves its purpose in treating its visitors as honored guests. Helping meet the needs of those less fortunate is a humbling yet very rewarding experience.