“We accept people right where they are, just the way they are.” Glen “Tex” Evans, ASP Founder

The Church where I work is closed this week in observance of Christmas. I had to make a quick stop in the office this morning to take care of something and I was expecting to find an empty parking lot since morning Mass would have been over by then and no employees were scheduled to be in the building. Well, an empty parking lot was not. To my surprise, the back parking lot that leads to the food pantry of the church was packed! I forgot it was Thursday, which means, Food Pantry day. Cars everywhere, the big green Greater Chicago Food Depository truck backed up to the garages and many volunteers unloading the truck.

Whatever thoughts and concerns were occupying my mind this morning, they were quickly replaced by the generosity and spirit of these amazing volunteers who despite the pouring rain of today’s cold Chicago morning did not stop them to help those in need.

Working at the Parish office allows me to see the many faces of those who week after week visit the food pantry to feed their family. Some have used it for a few weeks, some a few years now and some other guests are brand new.

I will never forget the face of a very well dressed middle aged lady who came asking for information about the food pantry a few months ago. She entered through the front door of the parish office and stood by the counter. I went up to her and asked if I could help her, just like I do with anyone else that visits our office. She looked around to see if anyone else was in the office and then whispered to me “I’m here to use the food pantry, can you tell me where it is and what I need? I feel very embarrassed, I have never done this before, but I lost my job a few months ago and I am desperate. I need to feed my family.” I proceeded to give her the information that she needed in order to use the food pantry and instructed her about the basic requirements. I then told her that she should never feel ashamed of asking for food assistance, that we have all experienced some type of hardship in our lives at some point and that the volunteers working in the pantry would treat her with respect and love. I went outside to show her the way to the food pantry and she thanked me for giving her the information.

To my surprise, she came back to the parish office a while later after loading her car with the groceries she had gotten at the food pantry and asked to speak with me. When I went up to the counter, she had a big smile on her face and she told me that she had used the food pantry and was very thankful for the assistance she received, that it would help her family tremendously to make it through the week. And then she said a few words that I will carry with me forever, “I want to thank you for treating me with dignity and for not letting me feel alone in my time of need”.

Hunger affects more people and more families that we think. Some of those people affected by hunger live in our communities, and some of them are even familiar faces that are hiding their financial struggles behind a smile.

1 in 6 people in America face hunger daily and 49 million Americans struggle to put food on their tables. Our local Food Pantry provided free food to hundreds of families in 2018 alone.

We might be on Christmas break and vacation mode, but hunger never sleeps. Hunger is very real.

Next time you see a marquee sign, social media ad or church bulletin asking for food donations to replenish a food pantry, please be as generous as you are able to. The blessings received by your generosity will be multiplied many times over.

#No1ShouldGoHungry