Alderwood Community Church (ACC) notes on their website that the church “is a group of people who are committed to following Jesus together. We are a non-denominational church devoted to God’s Word. We believe in the saving hope of the gospel found only in Jesus Christ.”
Situated at the crossroads of I-5 and Highway 524 near the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, ACC purchased an adjacent building, turning it into the Alderwood Compassion Center. The Center shares “practical and spiritual resources as” they “seek to connect with our neighbors and one another, in gospel-centered relationships.”
The Compassion Center operates a very forward-thinking food bank that focuses not just on providing food, as vital as that is, but also puts a premium on developing meaningful relationships with their shoppers. The term “shoppers” is intentional, meaning ACC sets up their food bank so people who come for groceries can have a shopping experience with family versus their previous practice of ACC volunteers putting pre-determined contents in a bag or box – a one size fits all gift for everyone who comes for food. Having a shopping and relational experience rather than merely a transactional encounter.
ACC is one of two egm partner church related food banks that have shared with us when they went to a shopping experience operation, they had less complaints from law enforcement and neighbors of packaged and canned food being discarded as trash. Think about it for a second. Many people who are experiencing food scarcity have poor teeth or health considerations, like diabetes, and often have limited dry and cold storage if at all. Thus, some food supplies get discarded. Shoppers can discern and select what is best for them and their families.
ACC also puts a focus on who they serve. They conducted some research and determined the best fit for them was to focus services for those who are often referred to as the “working poor.” ACC posted, “The U.S. Dept. of Labor estimated that in the United States, 7.6 million working poor individuals in the labor force still fell below the poverty level. The goal of the Alderwood Compassion Center is to offer food and assistance to those working poor individuals and families throughout Edmonds, Lynnwood, and South Everett. Our hope is that we would provide the tools those individuals need to improve their lives. But the real impact is relationships that are established where you and I can communicate the hope we have through Christ.”
ACC’s Compassion Center is an effective way to assist in preventing the working poor from tipping into homelessness.
Leaders from ACC have also actively been involved in the local CCDA network egm has hosted and facilitated since it began as a simple gathering of like minded ministries and organizations convened by egm. While we’ve been connecting, sharing best practices and collaborating for years, this group is so new to CCDA, we’re not even listed on their website yet! Let us know if you’re interested in details.
