Lately, I’ve been nerding out on The Federalist Papers. Why, you say? Hear me out. With so many contradictory statements these days about the Founding Fathers’ intentions and beliefs around the Constitution, I wanted to reread their arguments, in their own words to get to their heart, in context. One repeating theme in the Papers, even going back to the Declaration of Independence, is power: What is it? Who has it? When is it beneficial? When is it abusive? How to take it? How to give it?

Alexander Hamilton expounds on the necessity of separation of power and keeping the three branches in their “proper place” in the Constitution when he writes in Federalist No. 51, “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition….If men were angels, no government would be necessary…In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men…you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”

Hamilton steps into a holy space by including angels in this statement, which led me to reflect on a contrasting theme that the Scriptures have a lot to say about: powerlessness – of the poor, destitute and vulnerable, and of whom we engage with on a daily basis at the food bank.  “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” (Prov. 31:8). Every day that our staff and volunteers provide needed groceries with a smile and genuine care to our guests, they are speaking up to and for the vulnerable among us.

Earlier this week, I met a couple who have been speaking up for the vulnerable in a different and impactful way. Over 25 years ago, Jan Voy was a volunteer at Twin Lakes Food bank when she expressed to Kathy Boone, the director at the time, that many of the guests did not have any or functional furniture in their homes. “Kids without any dresser drawers are keeping their most personal and cherished possessions in a brown paper bag.” Was there something the food bank could do to help?

Kathy encouraged Jan to start a non-profit organization that would collect donated furniture and place it with families in need. With $1000 seed money donated by Twin Lakes Food Bank, Jan and her newly retired husband Peter, opened Furniture for Families (FFF) in Rancho Cordova where they built a thriving organization that supported nearly 5,000 families over two decades. When Jan and Peter decided to retire and could not find new leadership to continue the FFF mission, they closed the non-profit and with the remaining funds, gifted them to Twin Lakes Food Bank. We are grateful for the Voy’s generosity to the food bank and celebrate their decision to serve the vulnerable in our community 25 years ago.

The work and service of people like the Voys, our staff and volunteers inspire me to continue advocating for the powerless and strive to live from a place of “power to” rather than “power over”. I hope they inspire you as well.