Xplorers players serve food to homeless at Union Mission
May 14, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
MEMPHIS, Tenn.âThe Xplorers football team took a group lesson in servant leadership Friday when they headed to Union Mission in downtown Memphis and served lunch to more than 75 men, women and children.
The Mission serves 50 to 75 homeless people for lunch every day and to an average of 50 "program clients," men who are in the Mission's drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.
"Our philosophy is not âgive a hand-out' but âgive a hand up,'" Mission Director of Food Services A.C. Curtis said. "Sometimes we find ourselves doing just that, but there is a verse in the Bible that says, âBlessed is the man who doesn't forget the poor.'
"And there is another verse that says, âGive, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men pour into your lap. For with the same measure that you give, it will be measured back to you.' Meaning, you are going to receive back the blessings that you give. We believe that you will blessed when you serve."
Curtis also told the group that the Mission prides itself on its cleanliness.
"We made a 94 on our last health department inspection," Curtis said. "That's low for me. During one inspection last year, we were rated the highest among all the restaurants and eating establishments in Memphis that day."
Instead of serving behind the food line in the main hall, the players elected to serve the visitors restaurant-style, getting the food and bringing it to each person.
"It was wonderful," wide receiver Deumaine Reeder said. "It gave us a reality check on how things really are. We can choose what we want to eat and when, but these people are here just to get one meal, and they have to eat whatever's put in front of them. It reminds us of how we've been blessed."
For quarterback Takeshi Shinjo, personally serving lunch to the homeless was a first-time experience.
"In Japan, we don't have many people who do this kind of work," he said. "I think we could learn a lot from Americans in this area, to serve people in this way."
Defensive lineman Nate Grace served program clients directly from the kitchen.
"I think it was an excellent experience," Grace said. "I'm glad we were able to give back to the community. I hope we get a chance to do it again."
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