Three Meals A Day

Photo by Martin Moore

Lately the news can overpower you with the impossibility of making a difference, with the enormity of need around the world. Here’s a reminder that we can make a tangible difference, right here in our community. This note arrived recently from the director of The Giving Plate:

I want to share a recent story with you because your funds help us purchase produce, and this story is all about how that impacts those we serve.

One of our team members was doing our order taking a couple of months back, and a gentleman in his 80s drove up. He was new to The Giving Plate and had been given our information from a friend. He shared with our staff member that he and his wife live off of their social security, but it isn’t enough to survive, and they only have enough money to have two meals a day – and they alternate who gets the second meal. He asked if we had produce, and we said “yes.” He was overjoyed as they hadn’t had fresh produce for quite a while. 

Our staff stood and chatted with him and asked him if he had any favorite foods, and he sheepishly shared that he loves cantaloupe but was just grateful for whatever he would receive. Our volunteers went to work on his groceries. And in addition to the produce we purchase each week, one cantaloupe had come in from a local store just that day. Knowing that was his favorite, our volunteer tucked it into his groceries (the beauty of this being there in that time still touches me, as we hardly ever get cantaloupes, especially this time of year).

When we went out with his cart full of groceries, he teared up with the volume of food he was receiving and shared with the staff member that this would allow him and his wife to both have three meals a day.  And when she shared that they had a cantaloupe just for him, he started crying with gratitude. This gentleman wasn’t just provided food that day, he felt hope, and it is a beautiful gift to give to our neighbors in need.

Thanks for helping us share fresh foods with our neighbors in need.