Summer has a way of changing our routines.
The alarm clocks aren’t quite as important. The school lunches take a break. The kids sleep in, spend time with friends, splash in pools, go on adventures, and occasionally wander through the house asking, “What are we doing today?”
For many families, summer means more time together. More family dinners. More cookouts. More opportunities to gather around a table and enjoy the people we love.
But this week, we’d like to ask you to think about something different.
– Imagine your dinner table tonight.
– Picture the people sitting around it.
– Now imagine one empty seat.
– Who would you invite to fill it?
– A neighbor?
– A friend who’s been having a difficult time?
– A grandparent?
– Someone who recently moved away?
– Someone you’ve lost and wish you could share one more meal with?
Most of us can immediately think of someone.
That empty seat reminds us of something important: food has always been about more than food.
– It’s about connection.
– It’s about belonging.
– It’s about knowing that someone cares enough to make sure you have a place at the table.
At Seeds of Hope, we meet families every week who are working hard, doing their best, and simply facing difficult circumstances. Parents who worry about stretching a grocery budget a little further. Grandparents helping raise grandchildren. Families trying to make ends meet during a season when children are home from school and grocery bills seem to grow overnight.
As you enjoy the blessings of summer, we invite you to remember those empty seats.
The seat that represents someone who could use a helping hand.
The seat that reminds us that community matters.
The seat that challenges us to look beyond our own table and see our neighbors.
Whether it’s a donation of non-perishable food, a financial gift, a few volunteer hours, or simply sharing our mission with others, every act of kindness helps make room at the table for another family.
This summer, while you’re making memories with your children and loved ones, consider asking them a simple question:
“If we had one extra seat at our table tonight, who would we invite?”
Their answers may surprise you.
And perhaps that conversation will inspire your family to help someone who needs a place at the table.
Because hope grows when communities come together.
And no one should feel forgotten when there’s room for one more seat.
❤️ Planting Seeds. Growing Hope. Feeding Families.