Sorting chicken fingers

My mom used to pass out sandwiches from the back out our minivan in the parking lot of the grocery store. I’ve donated canned goods to food drives before. I know that, according to polls, the Mid-south area is the hungriest in the nation. That 25% of the children in Shelby County go to bed hungry every night. That 91% of impoverished neighborhoods in Memphis do not have access to a full service grocery store.

I know all of that.

But shelves upon shelves of canned goods look different when you know that there are real families who depend on them. Suddenly, hunger is right there, laid out in rows of cans and boxes. Catholic Charities Fig Tree Food Pantry serves 20 families per day from their location at Jefferson and Cleveland, and as many as 40 once a week when their Mobile Unit delivers to various Mid-south neighborhoods. As I packed bags with peanut butter, spaghetti, and canned vegetables, I couldn’t help but think of the people who might be on the receiving end. Did they have kids who would be excited about the Pop Tarts that were new this week? Would Mom do something special to the macaroni and cheese? My Mom added hot dogs to mine.

Helping Ms. Mary pack bags

Melinda has been packing bags for more than two years, beginning when the Food Pantry was just a small room in the basement of the Catholic Charities building. The volunteers are the heart and soul of this place, and it would not run without them. Al, Pat, Mary, and Neal joined Melinda is showing me the ropes and making me feel welcome. The story of how they each found their way to the Food Pantry is different, but the reason they help is the same – they want to make a difference.

Completed bags are ready for families

The whole operation is run by volunteers and one part time staffer, and their hard work and dedication has enabled significant growth in a short time. They now place a weekly order with the Mid South Food Bank, which provides the majority of food for pantries in the Memphis area and beyond, and supplement with direct donations.  It’s a small dent in the huge problem of hunger in the area, but for the families that are served it makes all the difference in the world. As I helped sort boxes of vegetables onto shelves, or tiny hotel shampoos into boxes, I considered all of the things I throw away without thought. That though I consider myself a compassionate person, the reminder of how fortunate I am makes me more so. I should remember not only the families who need my compassion, but the volunteers who will be here tomorrow – because they could use the help.

And more tiny hotel shampoos!