THE BIGGER WORLD AT YOUR DOORSTEP

With the question in my last post answered so soundly, I think I’m on a roll to solve problems, shed light in the darkness, and make the world a better place for others to roam freely.

Just between us, how does this work? My wife.

Marry the right woman and the clouds part, the sun shines, and path forward is clear.

That path led to the Bethlehem House Of Bread.

Since we were on Hall and passing by the optometrist, I stopped and got my glasses adjusted after taking a ball to the face a few weeks ago.

With better vision, the directions said the next light was a left turn and there we’d be.

Instead of parking in front, I pulled in to the side lot where an old man in cutoff jeans and a t-shirt cruised in lazy circle on his power wheelchair.

My wife walked away to find the door while I spoke to the old man, which I expected would give me a better idea of what’s what than wandering around turning doorknobs.

Me: Good looking rig you got there.

Man: Yep, you’ve got a car and I’ve got a chair.

Me: It looks fast.

Man: It is. And it’s got a power boost.

Me: Have you been in it long?

Man: All day.

Me: Did you have a car crash?

Man: No

Me: You’ve sure got a handle on your ride.

Man: I rebuild them and sell them for half the price of a new. You’d pay almost ten thousand dollars for this new. And I put in a better seat.

 

Then against all expectations, he stood and walked around the chair pointing out other features with amazing agility.

 

Man: I rebuild them and take them out for a test ride. This one is going to a lady on my street. I don’t want it breaking down on her.

 

It was the damndest thing seeing a paralyzed guy, or a polio guy, or just someone with mobility problems, jump up and walk around.

He reminded me of the prank the lifers pulled at the saw mill.

Ask Jimmy about his sister.

No.

He loves talking about her. His sister is a dancer, an amazing dancer.

Really?

Ask him.

Hey Jimmy, how’s your sister’s dancing going?

Jimmy: She lost her leg in an accident last year and I’ve fucking had it with all the jokes, okay. It’s not funny.

 

The funny part? No sister, no dancing. Ha, ha, huh?

 

From Costco With Love

In the bigger world, love always wins, but people still need food.

After the Costco run and the stop at the eye place, after shooting the shit with the guy in a wheelchair, we delivered the goods:

A few food items and a huge Costco pack of toilet paper.

 

Food For All provides culturally relevant food and options for pantry guests with food allergies and sensitivities, and other dietary or lifestyle preferences.

Serving our pantry guests is more than putting food on the plate; we want to serve our community equitably, and provide food that is familiar, culturally relevant and they can and want to eat.

 

Do all food banks carry toilet paper? 

 

We prioritize nonperishable items that are low sugar, low sodium and high fiber (whole grain pasta, brown rice,  100% juices, low sodium canned veggies, etc.). By donating these types of foods, we’re providing pantry guests with nutritious options to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Personal hygiene, cleaning items, and baby food products are aways needed and appreciated. We also welcome food donations for our furry friends (dogs/cat). Donation ideas include:

• Toilet paper

• Toothpaste and toothbrushes

• Personal hygiene items (deodorant, shampoos, conditioner, soaps, shaving products)

• Feminine products (see below)

• Baby food, formula and diapers

• Cleaning supplies (soaps, sponges, laundry detergent)

• Dog and cat food

 

Planting The Future

The bigger world is made up of small things all added together.

This is one of the small things, a vegetable garden at a food bank.

Talk about walking the walk, this is a fine example.

It’s also an inspiration to this baby boomer blogger spreading what’s probably common knowledge like it all so new and unbelievable.

Hunger is not unbelievable, and here’s how I know:

I cut weight in college to wrestle at one hundred seventy-seven pounds.

A year later I cut weight to wrestle at one hundred eighty pounds in the Army.

Yes, it was voluntary hunger, but the pain of hunger was the same.

Years later after cancer chemo and radiation on my neck I could barely drink water through the pain.

The nurses kept saying I needed to be ready for the ‘nadir’ of treatment, the lowest of the low.

My thoughts in the beginning? Whatever.

After the last treatment I thought I was out of the fire. I was wrong.

My thoughts at the ‘nadir’ a week later?  “This is soooo low.”

I had to negotiate with myself between eating and the pain of swallowing.

After a needed intervention from the wife and kids telling me in no uncertain words that I was screwing up, acting like a quitter, and snap out of it, I went on the mend. (Hey fam)

People in town, in the county, around the state, need food to get on the mend.

A couple of signs caught my attention:

 

 

PS:

Where to find food in Oregon.

 

PSS:

From reddit:

 

I would suggest asking the schools in your neighborhood if they have food pantries for families. The special ed school I work at has one and we do delivery boxes for families every week. Grocery gift cards or money are great as well as pantry staples.

I would suggest money over food if you’re able as some places can go buy milk/meat/produce and sometimes get better deals from stores/managers if they’re a food pantry staff.

 

Food For All Oregonians.