Be you a true Christian or a Humanitarian or Humanist, you know that your fellow humans cannot exist without a most basic need for life. Food.
Perhaps I should have explained that I had been encountering a great number of Holier Than Thou "Christians" who have an ugly, punishing attitude towards poor people, people who are often disabled, sick people. The attitude was "God is punishing them. They did something wrong."
There are tents housing homeless in increasing numbers around my part of town and the thought of being out there even one night scares the hell out of me. I had a taste of being a woman alone in the dark years ago. It happened in a simple way. I took a bus to a part of town that I didn't know my way around in to an electronics retail store and didn't realize that the bus service cut off rather early. I had a heavy package to carry. I sat waiting in a bus shelter for too long as I realised no bus was coming. This was pre cell phone. I didn't see a phone booth in a walkable distance. As it got darker, I decided I was better off sitting where I was than walking. The neighborhood looked creepier by the moment. I sat there all night, too cold to fall asleep, until a bus showed up at 5 am.
Imagine what it must be to not even have a tent.
I've been involved in food distribution for some time, those without a requirement that the people in line be of a certain religion or give their names, or be citizens.
Unfortunately, Americans who never thought to get in line have been doing so. Especially old people on retirement.
I decided to volunteer for a Christian organization close to home to see how they do it. Previously the place I worked for that provides hot meals had closed down due to Covid -19 and reopened with a two person crew for Grab and Go.
I was surprised to learn that this food bank has multiple sources but a huge donor was Trader Joes, of my favorite grocers. A group leader told me they had done a pop-up distribution in which there is no announcement but as soon as people see, the lines form. They had given out 100 bags and ran out. She told me there is a food shortage. She meant in this country.
When volunteers arrive they have on masks and put on rubber gloves. A van arrives loaded with vegetables. Eggs, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy items appear but are rare.
Breads and desserts are plentiful. Canned goods from individuals not so.
Never the less in about an hour the cardboard boxes are opened and broken down and put into the dumpster, food is laid out by category, and the group fills about 35 bags, sometimes 60, with as much variety as can be arranged.
People walk up or drive up to wait before we are done.
When the food bank opens only two questions are asked. Where do you live? How many in your family? Those bags are usually gone in half an hour.
If there is truly a lot left that food is taken to a rehab house. Any expired dairy is thrown out or rotting veggies put into a compost bin.
It's efficient and over quickly.
I recently met an immigrant from Central Europe who has a lawyer working on her citizenship. She expressed to me that all homeless are lazy people who do not want to work, or alcoholic or drug addicts. She is wrong. At the hot meals place a number of low income people who did not have enough after rent for food came. There were also homeless who lost their housing due to unexpected long term illness.
Many loving and giving people who have wealth and security have been privately and quietly giving money to nonprofits through the crisis.
I encourage you to give up a coffee or a lunch and donate to a food bank instead.
To the manor born, oblige like a good noble.
Thanks!
