Join Eggface in Making a Difference

The line outside The Storehouse food pantry
one day last fall as I waited for food.

As someone who has had to use food pantries, I know how important it is to have a good selection of healthy food available.  There are times these pantries go short,  and people looking for nutrition have nothing but bread.  While stores often donate day old baked goods, they don't generally donate canned goods and boxed goods.  Those items come from individuals who donate, either through the store, or directly.

Today Eggface announced her donation, one item of non-perishable food for every pound she's lost. That's 158 items, from dried beans and lentils, to boxed pasta and milk, canned veggies, low sugar cereals, and juices.  She's also issued a challenge to all of us, donate one food item for every pound you've lost to your local food bank.

I'm horrifically conflicted over this, because I would like nothing better than to be on the contributing end of this, and donate 189 food items.  But for now, I'm on the receiving end, indirectly, and I can tell you from first hand experience, how much these donations are appreciated by those of us who struggle to keep food on the table day to day.

I'd like to offer my personal thanks to Eggface, and everyone else who donates, on behalf of all of us who benefit from your altruism, and whom you seldom see or recognize on the street: single moms, homeless vets, the disabled, impoverished seniors,  and families displaced by violence, natural disaster, or job loss.

While I often blog about the issues of living at 50% below the poverty level,  most people in my RL have no idea that I am struggling, and I'm sure there are many more of us out there who have no outward appearance of the difficulties we face day to day.  Your neighbor, your child's best friend, and that friendly clerk at the market you chat up may well be living with crushing economic circumstances. You could well be helping someone you care about, someone you admire, or someone who has done you a good turn in life.  We are not always easy to recognize, but we are always grateful.

Thank you.