July 24, 2023 weekly newsletter

Another Saturday without rain during the pantry hours! What a treat for us, and for our guests. When it rains, we set up a pop-up canopy, which helps a bit with food distribution (except when the wind blows the rain sideways), but it does nothing for our table of extras. We just have to skip putting out the books, art supplies, and extra food items. After a few weeks of that, we are desperate for a sunny day!

I promised you a newsletter of stories, and that's what you're getting today, right after one housekeeping matter: we will gladly take anything from our complete pantry list if you can shop for us this week. The need has been high, and we really want to stay ahead of it as best we can. If you need the list, please just email me back and I'll send it to you. Thank you!

On to the stories: the names are changed, for obvious reasons. Many of the best stories are those which impacted both the giver and the recipient. There are two really hard things that we see regularly: 1. For someone to come for help for the first time, and 2. For someone to believe that their donations make a difference.

People who have never had to go to a pantry before usually come at 11:55. Sarah spent all morning talking herself into it. She has been the giver all her life, and she was devastated and humiliated, but needed food for her family since her wages were all going to rent and utilities. We just tried our best to make it as pleasant as it could possibly be for her. Louis and Patricia also came late the first time, back in that horrible first year of covid. They were both immigrants who had lost their jobs. She was in her late 60s and he was in his 70s. Who was going to hire them? They were trying to save up enough money to move to family. Coming for food was hard for them, but finding people who listened to their concerns and were happy to see them helped make it easier for them as the weeks went by.

Many of you have heard this story, but I have to include it. It was the first time that I came to realize that cooking dinner could be about more than food. This was in the time before the pantry. My friend Jane brought me a couple of pairs of sneakers that she didn't need. Well, ok. No one had ever given me sneakers before for a DINNER, but whatever...I took them with me. One of our regular guys came in a bit late and told me it was because someone had stolen his girlfriend's shoes, but she was also on her way and had told him to go on ahead. Could they have dinner even though they were late? Of course. She came in a few minutes later with her feet filthy and all cut up. Guess who those sneakers fit perfectly? God is good. She cried and so did I.

Speaking of crying: I've seen more people cry over cookies than anything else. They simply can't believe that someone cares about them enough to bake cookies for them. Such a small thing, a cookie, but such a symbol of love and generosity. Our friend Mary digs into them before she even leaves the parking lot, she's so excited. And no, Mary isn't a child :-) She's a lovely middle-aged woman who has been going through chemotherapy, but still manages to bring friends with her who also need some help.

We are thrilled by the number of our guests who pick up food for their friends and neighbors, or who refer them to us, and even bring them along to introduce them so that they feel better about coming. Sam and Alice are an Ayer couple who asked if they could get food for friends in Lowell who had just had a baby. The friends were recent immigrants who had no transportation, and it was winter. One had transportation, the other had the need.

The list goes on of our guests who help others as well as themselves. There are several couples who regularly share any excess food with their apartment complex. A Shirley Veteran, since deceased, came regularly to pick up food for his deployed buddy's family and for other neighbors. We met many other families through him, and we miss him terribly. Our friend Susan comes to pick up food for an elderly couple that is housebound. She faithfully helps them each week in their home and with their errands, just because she loves them.

We see so many heartwarming examples of that type of love. One that touches me deeply is our Bicycle Pipeline. I know I've mentioned it before. There is a gentleman who works at the Ayer Transfer Station who helps our bike repair guru, Steve, by saving broken bicycles for him. Steve fixes up bikes that would otherwise become scrap metal, and passes them out to anyone who needs transportation. He has been sending some of his extras out to the Fitchburg area with our Friday night counselor, to be given to some of her clients who need them. Steve got a bike rack for her car so that we no longer had to try to shove them into her trunk and tie them down with a bungee cord. One of the young men in Fitchburg who received a bike reported that he was now able to get to a job at a grocery store, and has since been able to move out of the tent where he was living. This is a lovely example of a “supply chain” that isn't broken!

I've gone on much longer than usual today, and I hope that I haven't bored you. The programs that we are able to offer, like literacy, sober craft gatherings, support group meetings, cooking classes, hair cuts, etc often bring in new people who are looking for help and friendship. Your generosity in food donations, funds, and your time/talents have kept us moving forward. One person at a time, one family at a time, we want to continue to serve those around us who need us. You all make it possible.

Thank you,

Cyndi

Image: Canva