Rossana Aguilar lives in one of the most productive and lucrative farming communities in America. But this area, once dubbed the world's breadbasket, is not immune to food insecurity. Rossana can testify to that, having spent much of 2020 stuffing bags with donated food at Centro Cristiano Agape, her small congregation serving southwest Bakersfield, California.
It is a stunning dichotomy.
Bakersfield, the southern gateway to the Central Valley, is one of the largest agricultural zones in the United States. In 2018, local crops in Kern County, home to Bakersfield, generated $7.5 billion in revenue. Farmworkers spend hectic summers in the blistering, burning sun, harvesting fertile fields of carrots, grapes, almonds, citrus, pistachios and hemp.
But COVID-19 created new challenges in a semi-arid flatland known for the din of heavy farm equipment. A high summer infection rate, social-distancing restrictions, cramped dorm-style boarding, restaurant closures and disrupted supply chains resulted in layoffs and hourly reductions — many of them already impoverished farmworkers. Pre-COVID, the per capita income in the city was $27,060, with nearly 18 percent of its residents living in poverty.
Many of those picking the food have trouble purchasing it for themselves.
The lack of resources in Bakersfield trickled down to Centro Cristiano Agape, which is still reaching out to needy families despite its own struggles. Because of the state-mandated shutdown of houses of worship, the church had limited opportunity to receive tithes.
Even if the doors were open, many have no money to give.
Although the church was given a few donations from the local food bank, they were left to pay for a majority of the food items they wished to distribute. So the church cobbled together what it could.
Rossana was in the midst of coordinating the effort when Cru® Inner City arrived with an unexpected check. Centro Cristiano Agape was one of five area churches to receive grant money through a special Canning the Hunger project developed by the local Cru team in an effort to ease some of the suffering.
The concept emerged as staff assessed how best to respond to the pandemic. They turned to Cru's steadfast donors, asking them to help feed those impacted by Bakersfield's expanding food desert. Money raised was granted to church partners who already had relationships with those who needed it most.
"We don't want to reinvent the wheel," said Richard Garcia, a Bakersfield staff member. "We want to come alongside and bless the ministries that are already doing the work."
It was a modern-day version of the fishes and the loaves.
"You don't know how timely or how much this money is going to impact us," Rossana told them.
Rosanna, who volunteers for Cru's Boxes of Love®, Easter Baskets and Homeless Care Kit packing events, said she is grateful to the inner-city ministry for providing much-needed groceries.
"They (Centro Cristiano Agape) struggle to make ends meet but they are still doing incredible things," Richard said.
Among those receiving help was Jose Luis, a recent widower who was out of work and had no food. He asked a friend to post about his need on Facebook. Blanca, a member of Rossana's church, saw the post and responded — even though Jose lived in Arvin, a tiny community about 30 minutes outside of Bakersfield. Because of its Central Valley location, Arvin has been nicknamed Garden in the Sun.
It can be a brutal sun, even for laid-off farmworkers.
After bringing Jose food for his body, Blanca returned the next day with food for his soul — a Bible and Cru literature, including the Four Spiritual Laws booklet.
"Read this and I will return later," she told Jose, adding she would explain the materials during her next visit.
When she returned, an eager Jose was waiting.
"I'm glad you're here," Jose told her. "I read all the material that you gave me. And I want to know who Jesus is."
The Lord moved without a tutorial.
Blanca, and those who traveled with her to Arvin, prayed with Jose.
"And so, in that moment, they were able to lead him to the Lord," Richard said.
Since then, Jose participates in a discipleship study and watches church services online.
Blanca continues to make the trek to Arvin two times a month despite the demands of her own busy household, consisting of her husband, two teens and her mother-in-law.
"Here was a man who didn't just have a physical need, he had an emotional and spiritual need," Richard said. "You could feel that God was in it. It affirms to me that what we were doing was right."
Rossana said she was amazed by Jose's testimony and how quickly he came to faith after that initial contact.
"Once again it confirms that nothing is impossible for God and that He does work in mysterious ways," she said.
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Lori Arnold serves as senior writer for Cru's inner-city ministry.
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