Saint Francis of Assisi

Recently I had my name added to the schedule of volunteers for the Food Pantry in Manchester, NH.  In actuality I've been going there for about a year every other month.  As the Confirmation Director I ask my students to complete a 30-Hour Service project - and I do believe you should never ask for anything you wouldn't be willing to do yourself.  So - when my good friend Vicki asked if I would go with her one month I said "sure."  St. Francis has about 10 volunteers who do this - each gets on the schedule about 6 times a year.  We arrive at 5:30PM and wait for the doors to open at 6:00PM.  As we drive into the parking lot - we see the line of people waiting to be let in.  Some days it is snowing and the line is shorter, other days it is perfect weather and the line can get quite long.  They know they will be getting at least two boxes or crates of food - so carrying it or transporting it has to be worked out ahead of time.  At about 5 minutes to six we take our places on the assembly line. 

My job turns out to be giving squash, zuchinni, or mushrooms (and one eggplant for anyone brave enough to take it), as well as cucumbers (these I hand them - up to six little cukes, or a couple large ones).  At the Food Pantry - the offerings are dependent upon the generosity of local businesses and grocery stores.  Sometimes restaurants donate frozen items like sweet potatoes from the Longhorn.  Some nights we hand out pointsettas, tulips, or fresh cut flowers.  In the winter there may be winter coats - and on the days it is raining we see people changing coats simply to be dry.  Always as we hand out the food there are the looks of gratitude and the words of thanks.  The volunteers come from around the city - the St. Francis volunteers come in pairs of two - but each night there are about ten volunteers - sometimes more and sometimes less.  Moms with their teenage sons or daughters, young couples, a mom with her baby in a back pack - and elderly helpers too - the volunteers are as varied as the people being served.  I leave with a sense of community - a feeling of sadness - and a belief that this is a needed and worthwhile effort.  I am grateful for my own blessings, and happy for the chance to give my time in this way.