Day One...where do I start? For novelists the advice is always, 'write about what you know'. At this point in my life my little girls are my biggest inspiration. This morning, as I observed my younger daughter tip up her bright yellow cereal bowl enveloping her nose, mouth and half her face to lick up what remained of her "goaty-meal" (our nickname for oatmeal), I was struck with a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the means to provide healthy food, even the occasional stop for fast food or a "special treat". Not only are we able to feed our children, we are fortunate enough to have diapers, new clothes (thanks grandparents & family!), books galore, toys, the opportunity to go to preschool, Parks and Rec programs... and the list goes on spelling out how "rich" we are when I consider that children around the world and right here, in my community, go hungry on a regular basis.
Today I would like to focus on the amazing work of local Food Banks. A search of "Food Banks" brings up a whopping 11,000,000 hits! The stats across the board say that 51% of their users are families with children. Food Banks go above and beyond supplying food, some have a preschool storytime, a literacy program, and most provide special programs to ensure that families with kids get a supplemental supply of nutrious food each week.
This past summer, as the outreach coordinator for our VBS, we focused on the "Tiny Bundles" program at the Surrey Food Ban
k. http://surreyfoodbank.org/ A few of us took a tour to see first hand how it works. Each week, approximately 120 families with babies come to the Tiny Bundles program. Families are given extra fruit and veggies, dairy products (nursing moms are given extra eggs & milk), formula, and a freebie (extra diapers, a bib, sippy cup, toddler toothbrush/toothpaste, whatever they can get through 
donations). The staff are 
incredible at trying to help the 
families- they've even organized a gift layette for new babies (an outfit, jammies, bottle, blanket, often items lovingly knit by folks in the community). When the babies have their 1st birthday the families are given a "graduation gift"- new outfit, toothbrush/toothpaste, etc. Many families don't have a car which makes it difficult to get their food home. So, the Food Bank, offers a "handy cart". Amazing as it is, the Food Bank- like the people it helps- struggles to make ends meet. Their warehouse appears well-stocked but they say it would only last about 20 days if item and monetary donations ceased.
k. http://surreyfoodbank.org/ A few of us took a tour to see first hand how it works. Each week, approximately 120 families with babies come to the Tiny Bundles program. Families are given extra fruit and veggies, dairy products (nursing moms are given extra eggs & milk), formula, and a freebie (extra diapers, a bib, sippy cup, toddler toothbrush/toothpaste, whatever they can get through 
donations). The staff are 
incredible at trying to help the 
families- they've even organized a gift layette for new babies (an outfit, jammies, bottle, blanket, often items lovingly knit by folks in the community). When the babies have their 1st birthday the families are given a "graduation gift"- new outfit, toothbrush/toothpaste, etc. Many families don't have a car which makes it difficult to get their food home. So, the Food Bank, offers a "handy cart". Amazing as it is, the Food Bank- like the people it helps- struggles to make ends meet. Their warehouse appears well-stocked but they say it would only last about 20 days if item and monetary donations ceased.What kindess and dignity the staff and volunteers show. We can only imagine the difference they make in the lives of children and how that will impact those children in the longterm!
(*the pictures are a few of my own that I took on my tour last spring)
No comments:
Post a Comment