LAKELAND, Fla. – Squeezing into the crawl space at the local bar, Jennifer searched for change patrons dropped on the floor the night before.

Jennifer Dunn, right, works alongside Seeds Sowers founder Reverend Bender to provide some 4,200 meals a month to locals in Lakeland, Fla.

“I would gather the money to get food for me and my sister and younger brother,” she said. “If I couldn’t get enough money, I would climb into the dumpster and collect cans and old bread.”

In the years since searching the streets for money, the state intervened on her behalf; she was placed in a group home and eventually was adopted at 18-years-old.

Today, she works to help people in those same types of dire situations. She volunteers with Seed Sowers, a Florida-based ministry where her efforts help provide an average of 4,200 meals a month to local people in need. For more than six years, she has been working with families in crisis.

“I know what it’s like to be hungry and I know what I can do to help,” Jennifer said. “I love doing what I’m doing. I wish I could do more.”

Operation Blessing helps keep the ministry stocked by delivering four tractor trailer truckloads of food each month to Seed Sowers. Each week, the Hunger Strike Force delivers an average of 2 million pounds of food and other product which is then distributed to more than 100 partnering organizations across the U.S.

Jennifer’s struggle started when she was 2 months old. A house fire killed three of her siblings and left her badly burned. Her parents, both alcoholics, couldn’t handle her disfigurement and neglected her even more.

As a young girl, she took it upon herself to care for her two younger siblings. Even though she strived to provide for them, they were all malnourished. Her growth was stunted and she was behind in school. In fact, she didn’t learn her ABC’s until she was in the fourth grade. She was less than 5 feet tall when she graduated. Today she stands 5’6”.

Operation Blessing helps keep the ministry stocked by delivering four tractor trailer truckloads of food each month to Seed Sowers.

“My heart goes out to all the people who need help,” Jennifer said, “but there was one lady who made a huge dent in my heart.”

Jennifer heard about Carolyn and went to her home for a visit. When she arrived, she saw the elderly woman, who suffers with diabetes, sitting in a wheelchair, barley able to care for herself. Carolyn, who is almost blind, recently had her leg amputated and couldn’t walk.

“She told me she was starving,” Jennifer said. “She said no one would come to help her.”

For the past few months, Jennifer has been nursing Carolyn back to health. She went from 83 pounds to 105 and is still gaining. In addition, her leg has finally healed.

“One day someone might need your help and it’s your obligation to show someone the same love and compassion that has been given to you,” Jennifer said. “I do what I do to make a difference.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1997- 2008 by Operation Blessing International of this page and all contents. No part of this site may be used without prior written consent from OBI. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Email us at operation.blessing@ob.org.