June 9, 2025 newsletter

 

June is such a huge month for endings and new beginnings. Along with all the graduations that are happening, there are also changes that occur at the pantry. One such change is that our friend Elliot M is leaving us for the summer. Elliot began volunteering with us in January, prior to our move from Devenscrest to downtown. He helped to clean out the rooms we would soon call home and to assemble the new racks. And then he basically did anything else that we asked of him. Except for one thing: Elliot rarely showed up on Wednesdays to help pack, except during school vacation week. That's because he is in high school and is going off to be a camp counselor this summer! We wish him the best summer EV-AH and hope that he returns in the fall with lots of great stories to tell

Elliot, and other young people like him, help remind me that optimism and meliorism are vitally important qualities today. “Meliorism”...isn't that a great word? It means the belief that we can contribute to positive change and can help to improve the world by participating in acts of love, creativity, compassion, and kindness.

For all of us who are becoming skeptical and even cynical about the world today, I want to share a link to a podcast that I found very helpful in restoring some balance to my thought life. If you already have a podcast app that you use, simply search on “The Next Big Idea” with Rufus Griscom, and look for the June 5, 2025 episode titled “Hope for Cynics: the surprising science of human goodness.” We tend to think that cynics are smarter than optimists, but that just isn't true. When an optimist fails, it is often very obvious and public. For example, they chose to give the benefit of the doubt to a con-artist. But when a cynic fails, their mistakes are mostly invisible. It's all the joy and opportunities that they failed to partake of, the friends that they didn't make. Please, if you're losing faith in humanity, give it a listen; it's an hour you won't regret!

On Saturday, I heard a beautiful story from an elderly man who is taking care of his wife. She has Parkinson's and the dementia that sometimes accompanies it. It's tough for him to be in the caregiving role, but he so obviously adores her. We only get to see her occasionally, when she is well enough to accompany him, and she is every bit as sweet as he is. At the pantry by himself on Saturday, he told me that he had had her sit on the couch and let him give her a pedicure and foot massage. He said she just loved it. Such a kind act of service to someone who can't get out much anymore, and who is incapable of doing it for herself. His love for her simply spilled over. We are privileged to serve people like this every week. Thank you for helping to make it possible!

If you can shop for us this week, we are a bit low on a few items: boxed mashed potatoes, ramen noodle packets (any flavor except for shrimp, please), granola bars, and peanut butter or cheese crackers. Those last two items are for our Friday night snack bags that go home with our dinner guests. We can take drop-offs at the pantry (through the gray door next to the parking lot on Cambridge Street) on Wednesdays from 10 to noon, Fridays from 4 to 5, and Saturdays only from 9 to 10. Please do not leave food at the door outside of these hours. The bin is always available at Shop n' Save if those times don't suit. Please leave a note in the bag with your name so we know whom to thank! We are located at 21 Washington Street, Suite C, Ayer MA 01432

I love you all. Have a lovely week!