For Luke Wilson, it feels odd to be on the receiving side of a nonprofit organization. 

“I’ve loaded trucks with rice and beans all around the world, and I know what it feels like to be the one giving the money, giving the food, and opening opportunities for people in those hardship places,” he said. 

Wilson worked for a worldwide, nonprofit ministry that brought humanitarian relief to Syria, Jordan and other parts of the Middle East. He lost his job after a fall-off in post-pandemic donations. 

“I’ve been employed for 30 years, and I don’t know how to do this unemployment thing,” he said. “But I realize, ‘Oh, I get to be the recipient now.’ It feels much better to give, but it’s nice to have a safety net.” 

Wilson, who is in his 50s, was fortunate to receive three months severance pay. He’s been driving for Uber while searching for his next opportunity. 

Luke’s wife currently works from home, and his children are grown, so it seemed like the right time to open their home and help their church host five college women in town to teach summer bible school. 

“We were thinking the girls would be light on the budget, but they eat just like the guys do! They’re so busy during the day, and they’re famished when they come home. They are fun, and it gives us energy (to host them),” he said. 

But supplemental food from Harvesters has helped make ends meet. 

“We really appreciate it. It’s just a very simple process to come through the line, go back home and see what we’ve got, and parse it out to see how long it lasts,” Luke said as he waited for a Harvesters mobile food distribution to begin at the North Kansas City YMCA. 

“It’s just amazing for us to have a safety net,” he added, “but I hope one day to be back on the other side to help the next person who is going through it.”