Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church have partnered with World Vision U.S. to boxes of food to those who are in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Chron, World Vision’s Fresh Food Box Program provides enough food to feed a family of five for a week. The boxes often contain meat, dairy, and produce, which is provided by farmers who would not have been able to sell the goods because of the COVID-driven economic downturn.
Dr. Paul Osteen, who serves as an associate pastor at Lakewood, said, “We are truly grateful to partner with World Vision U.S. to get fresh food to the most vulnerable in Houston and the surrounding areas. We’ve seen first-hand the smiles and gratitude on the faces of hundreds of parents, children, elderly and medically fragile when they are handed a box of food. Through this valuable partnership, Lakewood will continue to offer help and hope to those in need in our community.”
World Vision has been actively serving communities during the pandemic. The Fresh Food Box Program has fed 860,000 people through 70 “hubs” like Lakewood Church. One of the biggest problems for the program has been finding distributors who have enough refrigerating and cooling capacity for the boxes.
Reed Slattery, the national director of World Vision U.S. Programs, told The Christian Post that the ministry had grown in their desire to serve the city of Houston in recent years. He said, “World Vision was in Houston for two years helping rebuild after Hurricane Harvey. We noticed how in need the area was. During the pandemic, we know folks aren’t working and food is one of the biggest needs, so we come alongside them and make sure families here have dinner.”
Lakewood Church has served the Houston community throughout the pandemic. Earlier in the Spring, they delivered 300,000 pounds of food, cleaning supplies toiletries, N95 masks, care packages and financial assistance to organizations such as the Houston Food Bank, Texas Children’s Hospital, The Beacon homeless shelter, Houston Pregnancy Crisis Center, Houston Police Department, Houston Sheriff’s Department.
