It started as a pregame meal for basketball teams.
In spring 2013, the local Des Moines FCA area board felt God calling them to do ministry in the five area urban high schools. They had developed relationships with basketball coaches from prior engagements and asked how they could best come alongside and serve them in their greatest need.
Staff were surprised when all five schools answered with a resounding response for food.
“The number one request was, ‘Can you feed our kids?’” FCA Iowa State Director Dave Turnball said.
Members of the Hoover High School boys basketball team at a pregame meal.
After receiving approval from superintendents, school athletic directors and coaches, FCA began serving pregame meals to the girls and boys basketball teams. The more Turnball, Urban Area Representative RJ Sumrall, and other Des Moines FCA staff served, the more they understood the harsh realities the youth faced. They also realized hunger wasn’t only related to game days; it was a struggle these kids faced daily.
A pastor at Turnball’s church, Valley Church, heard about the pregame meals and asked if they’d be interested in partnering with Quik Trip, the convenience store chain. There, hundreds of sandwiches, salads and snacks that aren’t purchased the previous day are thrown away, though still edible two to three days later.
Turnball met with Quick Trip, and the company agreed to let them take the food to schools if they obtained a refrigerated truck for transportation, as well as industrial refrigerators to store the sandwiches. FCA and Valley Church filled both requirements, and began collecting the leftover food to take to Valley Community Center.
“There was a greater need to feed the kids every day,” said Sumrall. “God put everything in place so we could start.”
The food is divided into bins and delivered to the schools five days a week. On weekends, the food is taken to shelters or a mission associated with the church.
FCA staff and volunteers with the Roosevelt High School girls basketball team.
“If we can help provide some consistent nutrition for kids, we know right now the coaches feel that it’s extremely valuable to their program,” Turnball said.
Like Jesus multiplying the fish and loaves to the masses, Sumrall says the first step is to meet the physical needs of schools in order to cultivate change within the community.
“We’re understanding the true essence of serving, where you have to put the boots to the street and start working,” he said. “I believe that helps the ministry grow because it’s requiring us to get the community involved, and that’s the only way this area is going to grow.”
Sumrall, who came to Christ as an athlete through FCA in college, loves being able to turn around and give the same service to others as he was once given.
“It’s a great honor to be able to put a smile on those coaches and athletes’ faces,” he said.
Providing for a basic need brings a partnership and openness for serving in tangible and loving ways.
“I never realized I’d be in the food ministry,” Turnball said. “But we’re doing it because we’re serving our coaches in that area by feeding their kids because that’s what they told us they want and need.”
He added, “We say all the time, good works lead to good will, to give us an opportunity to share good news.”