To the editor:

In Tuesday’s paper, Congressman Randy Forbes had a column (“’Faith it Forward’ with LW”) highlighting a new initiative called Faith it Forward and the generous giving of LeOtis Williams to the community.

I would agree that the collaborative efforts of Mr. Williams and the 38 organizations that participated have done a great job meeting a need during the Thanksgiving holiday, and I am sure many are hopeful for its return this year.

I was, however, struck by the questions he posed: “What would the impact on the community have been if LeOtis had never acted? How many people would have been left hungry and unreached?”

Those are questions we should be concerned about every day and not just at Thanksgiving. There are several churches and organizations right here in Suffolk striving to address this need every day.

Although I cannot speak for all of them, I can speak for one: Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center, a non-profit organization that has been working tirelessly to meet the needs of the food-insecure in our city for more than 10 years.

Distributing more than 345,000 pounds of food to more than 41,000 individuals in the year 2014 alone, this organization distributes food seven days a week, because we, too, are motivated by our passion and love for Christ and therefore His people.

“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (James 2:15-16 KJV)

I would like to take the opportunity to highlight and send a heartfelt thanks to all of the church pantries, organizations and volunteers that continuously Faith It Forward so we can collaboratively keep hunger at bay in our city.

Lorna Slaughter

Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer

Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center