Rubies in the Rubble

A friend and I were wandering through the Borough Market in London today. They have all sorts of food there (really, anything you could want), and it’s wonderful food. We bought some great cheese there and I found a phenomenal loaf of bread. That’s not really the point, however. We came across a stand toward the end of our trip there selling chutney.

Now, what in the world is chutney? (That’s what I thought anyway.) Chutney goes well on basically anything. Crackers, bread, salads, warm vegetables, cold meats, quiche, pizza, pies, and so on and so forth. Long story short, it’s delicious stuff. But this wasn’t any ordinary chutney.

The young woman selling the jars of deliciousness told us that they were sold by an  organization called “Rubies in the Rubble.” What is it, you ask? Well, let me tell you. She said that she was originally working for a lucrative financial entity (specifics and other details remain unmentioned) while attending a church in London. While she went to the church, she served people in the parish community that were finding it difficult to get back onto the employment ladder. In other words, the people who no one else really desired to help.

She quit her financial job and started Rubies in the Rubble to actually employ those struggling around her local community. Now, they make and sell the Chutney we bought at the Borough Market, allowing for a new start for all of these people.

Simple, right? I thought so, but I also thought it was quite remarkable. It’s not the normal approach people in the church take to help others. This young woman’s commitment to others was not driven by a desire to convert them, but to be a positive presence in their life that helped them get back on their feet.

Additionally, “Rubies in the Rubble” works to make us all aware of the food that we waste. So, they use the materials that would otherwise be cast aside when cooking. And, again, the result is fantastic.

I know (via the end of the year report provided by WordPress) that I have a nice collection of readers in the UK (you’re not huge, but it’s nice to know you’re there), so if you are one of them (and live in London), please head down the Borough Market (Jubilee section) some Saturday and help out this endeavor. If not, you can also order them on their website. Not sure what you can and can’t do in the States, but it wouldn’t hurt to email them.

What organizations in your Church/community do you know of doing this sort of thing? What’s their story?