5:24PM

Not pitch black outside! Still a sliver of sunset in the west.

It looked like the same sliver of sun that greeted me from the east in the morning. I awakened early because the pre-set thermostat hadn’t kicked in and it was cold in the house. I immediately started worrying people would start arriving at the church to wait outside until the food bak opened. I put on multiple layers of warm clothing and headed out into the cold. It was 7:30AM.

My down jacket crackled in the minus 14 degree morning as I lugged bags of donated clothes up to the doors.

She was huddled in the corner with a sweet bun in one hand and a coffee and gloves in the other.

“You can’t stand out here for three and a half hours” I said.

“Yes, but I will just walk around if it gets too cold” she replied.

On one shoulder the voice was telling me that this woman was an adult and she made the decision to step out into the frigid morning with the intention of waiting for the food bank to open. The voice on the other shoulder couldn’t talk through the sobbing.

I let her in, gave her #1 (the most valued number on a Saturday morning in these parts) then sent her home.

“Come back at eleven”.

Another woman arrived shortly after. Her sweater didn’t fit well, her head and hands were uncovered. She came to wait in line for the food bank to open while her family back at the motel slept.

“Where are your gloves?” I asked in full-on ‘mom’ mode.

“I have none” she replied.

I felt so badly for her. One month of motel living after arriving from Columbia HAD to be discouraging
I reached into one of the bags of newly donated goods, pulled out gloves, a coat, a hoody and a sweat shirt. I could tell she needed boots because her tennis shoes -as if in sympathy to her current lot in life, were worn through to the sole- but there weren’t any to give her. She wrapped the coat around her and pulled the gloves on all the while thanking me profusely. I gave her a big hug, handed her the #2 card (the next-to-best prize on a Saturday morning in these here parts) and sent her home.

Miraculously, when my partner in food bank crimes and misdemeanors came in moments later she handed me a bag. Size ten boots! They were gently worn but soft and warm looking, I saved them for my friend’s return.

With over 120 people coming in every week to get food for themselves, their partners and/or families it’s difficult to remember everyone’s other needs like clothing, home search, health issues but every once in a while you remember and you’re able to help. It’s remarkable how many times I’ve received a bag of goodies at exactly the moment someone needs it the most. I love those serendipitous moments.

God moments to some.

At eleven on the dot (somewhere) we started the registration process and while the other intake volunteer served #1, Gladys (#2) sat down across the table from me waiting for her information card to be drawn from the alphabetized card system. I reached down and pulled up the boot bag.

“Check these out.” I said excitedly, handing the bag over.

“Wow!” was all she could say as she looked in then pulled out the boots turning them over to check them out. It was a fantastic moment. She was filled with gratitude, her smile beamed.

The voice on one shoulder shrugged and said, “She’ll sell them”.

The voice on the other side couldn’t be heard through the tears… of joy.