Big Reach’s Waselich: Glad to Maintain Food Distributions
Valerie Waselich, director for the Big Reach Center of Hope, a multi-faceted ministry of Greenford Christian Church, is hanging tough. You can read more about the Big Reach at its website.
What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has changed your work life?
The center had to make a drastic shift from being people-focused, with a bi-weekly food and clothing distribution, to temporarily project-focused, with a weekly drive-up-only distribution. We still have the heart to serve our community, but this shift required fewer volunteers and much more preparation. Before the pandemic, the “behind-the scenes” half of our week was focused on preparation. We would have various teams of volunteers prepping and packing food, stocking shelves, sorting donations and filling our clothing room. The other half of the week was driven by volunteers whose passion was to make the distribution day a unique experience for our recipients. Seeing the hearts of our volunteers and recipients is a huge part of who we are at Big Reach. This is what we miss the most.
While we have been blessed with enough product and volunteers to prepare enough carts of groceries to serve hundreds of households since COVID-19 precautions began, we miss our Big Reach families and volunteers. Our truest passion is the relational aspect of sharing the hope of the gospel and being a source of encouragement to one another in the process. Amidst all of these changes, we hope our recipients can feel the love and joy we take in lending a hand during our drive-up distributions. Each week, we are re-evaluating our efforts and looking forward to opening the building to the public again … but with some COVID-19 precautions in place!
How about your personal life?
Of course, I have had some challenges on a personal level. I miss our extended family, friends and other things I look forward to like church, school and social gatherings. However, I could never complain about these inconveniences. My husband and I have been blessed to continue working. We have two middle school students who are handling online schooling with only minor frustrations. Technology has helped us stay connected to church and some other virtual events we were looking forward to.
Some days are surely more challenging than others, and that is OK. Having loved ones and other things to miss is itself a gift. When things get a little more challenging, I try to remind myself that having so much to miss is something I should be happy about. Looking forward to these things coming back into our lives, slowly but surely, is a helpful way for me to focus on something positive.
What steps are you taking to hang tough?
On both professional and personal levels, it is important for me to set realistic expectations. I typically tend to set that bar higher than what I’m likely to reach, because I enjoy the challenge. COVID-19 has just impacted everyone so differently. The variables in everyday life, let alone business plans and goal setting, can be overwhelming. It isn’t fair or kind to place expectations on anyone, even myself. So, for example, every so often I let my kids eat cereal for dinner and I don’t carry a bit of guilt about it! They’re happy and I gave myself a break. Choosing those moments, and embracing them, has been beneficial for me. I’m trying to just live in the awareness that things aren’t normal for anyone and establishing a “new” normal is going to take some time. For Big Reach, it helps me to be grateful for our limited team’s accomplishments, the individuals and families we have been able to serve and the joyful anticipation of seeing the rest of our team back in action just as soon as possible.
What advice are you sharing with the people you love?
This might sound strange, but I’ve shared with my family and a few close friends that we can feel a sense of peace in our lack of control. As a person of faith, I am comforted in knowing that my own actions and efforts can only do so much. Surrendering control of “my” plans for the future, from hosting public events to making family travel plans, I’ve been able to lean into whatever “God’s plan” might be. As a society, we are accustomed to mapping out months of plans in advance, and it’s responsible and necessary to do so. This slow-down has helped me make plans with a greater awareness of the underlying truth that they will only happen if it’s God’s will. As a Christian, this truth is always present, but I’m often too pre-occupied to embrace it or take comfort in it. In discussing this with my loved ones, I hope to convey that choosing to have faith, and trusting in God’s plan to work out for our good, and for reasons we may never see or understand, can bring us unexpected joy and peace, even in a time of uncertainty.