 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Client Stories He Could Have Been on His Way to a Chamber Breakfast The gentleman looked quite distinguished in his three-piece suit. His white hair was well groomed, giving notice to those in the room that he was a man of dignity. As we looked up from our desks, we assumed he was lost. Perhaps he was a salesman, or a wealthy businessman who had stopped by to make a contribution to our very busy feeding program on his way to a chamber breakfast meeting. He was not. He was a 62 year old man who had been laid off from his life-long career position as a public relations consultant for a mid-sized company. He had no chamber breakfast to rush off to, no jobs, no family. He had used up his unemployment eligibility and gone through his life savings. He'd lost almost everything. Unable to look into our eyes, he explained that he'd had a tough time finding employment, even with an impressive resume and a good work history. He asked if we could utilize his skills in any capacity. His arrival at our emergency food pantry represented the breaking of his spirit. We never know what happens to someone after they leave our office at this point in the decline into poverty and homelessness. We can only hope and pray the he will connect with the resources to keep himself afloat. As we prepared a bag of food for this gentleman, we thought about age discrimination and how businesses have to make the tough decision to let go long-term workers. They are, after all, at their earning peak, costly to our benefit packages, and maybe getting a little slower – maybe. Whatever, it is good business sense to let them go. It's just good business. But, with government raising the retirement age and businesses cutting the bottom of the line, how do we prepare for the casualties that will occur. A volunteer dropped of a box of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches left over from a donation prepared by a local high school's honor club to distribute to the hungry. The dignified man, in his pressed three-piece suit looked longingly at the box of sandwiches. "May I"? Asked the man , "help yourself"', we replied. A startled staff watched as he devoured sandwich after sandwich. He had nothing to rinse down the two day old sandwiches, yet he continued shoving the sandwiches into his mouth. He apologized, amid words of thanks. "I have not eaten for three days," he said in embarrassment. We left the room to hide our tears. How shameful that this man must face this degradation at this point of life. We thought of all the kids that made all these silly sandwiches. If only they could of seen what we saw this morning. If only everybody could see, even just for a few minutes, what it is to run out of good luck, if only they could understand that hard working, good people have unfortunate experiences. It could happen to any of us. Please help us help those who are in trouble. Help us offer them food and assistance to begin to reassemble their shattered lives. Make a contribution to the cooperative feeding program in the name of your company or family. Know that the donation will help ease the suffering of many good people who have fallen on hard times. You celebrated the holidays with friends and family, please find time to offer help to those who aren't as blessed as most of us these days. Your donations are tax deductible . Have a blessed holiday, season, and a year of love and prosperity. But always keep a place in your mind and in your heart for the poorest of our community. Thank you Sincerely, The Staff, Volunteers, and Board of Directors of the Cooperative Feeding Program 
|
| › | June 2005 |
 | |
| › | May 2005 |
| |
| › | April 2005 |
|