"I just want to say thankyou..."

A food box recipient called the South Plains Food Bank the Monday before Christmas. She began with a simple statement, “Last Christmas, I gave to the food bank. Today, the food bank gave to me and I just want to say thank you.”

This year has been challenging for many South Plains residents. In 2009, the South Plains Food Bank worked with a network of 220 churches and non-profit organizations in 21 counties to distribute 25% more food than the previous year -- the effects of increased food and fuel prices as well as economic downturn.

The South Plains Food Bank and our agencies responded to the increased demand because people from all parts of our community so generously gave time, food, money and voice to insure no one goes hungry this holiday season, this month, or this year.

The woman who called Monday received food donated by school children during the U Can Share Food Drive or collected by Boy Scouts. Volunteers from local churches and businesses worked to sort cans and make food boxes. Churches and civic clubs worked to deliver the food into the hands of people who are struggling to make ends meet. Each food box passed out this year is an expression of the compassion of our community.

The South Plains Food Bank can only give to the hungry what it receives from our community. I realize how much our community has given to feed the hungry this year, and I just want to say thank you.

Dancing Sugar Plums

You know, in thinking about Christmases of my childhood I don't ever get the sense in my memory that we were poor, but we were. In seeing pictures I would say there is never an indication of unhappiness or want. But I am sure my single mother worked long hours and stayed up nights wondering how she was going to provide for the two of us ~ especially during Christmas. I know there were Christmases she did without, meals that she didn't eat so she would have enough for me tomorrow. I say this in thinking about the clients we serve and their children. I am certain that many of the parents/guardians are staying up at night wondering how they are going to provide a meal for their little ones, much less toys and stockings. They lay there knowing that their kids will not have sugar plums dancing in their heads, but will have the ache of hunger gnawing at their tummies. But for many in our community, that will not be their holiday season - thanks to you. Because you have given the gift of time, money, food, and/or voice so many of these families will have a Christmas food box filled with enough food to last a family of 4 about 14 days! This will assist these families with the extra meals they need to provide for their school children while they are home, and also help them during this time when most agencies are closed for the holidays. This holiday season, because of you, there will be more dancing sugar plums!

All Hands on Deck!

Yes, tomorrow will be the first day we hand out our Christmas Food Boxes. We have already been distributing food to our agencies, and handing out senior boxes. But tomorrow, I hear, is going to be a mad dash. I don't really know what to expect, having never been out here at Christmas, but I know it is an all staff work day and several volunteers are already signed up to assist us. If you are thinking about helping ~ call Meagan Bratton at 763-3003 to let her know you're coming to help. She likes to make sure there is enough work for everyone! Have a great weekend and maybe I'll see you tomorrow.

Special Guest

We are having Christmas dinner at my house this year ~ a first. We had Thanksgiving dinner at my place, another first, and it went pretty well. For those of you just tuning in . . . I am not the greatest cook! Which is to say that my housemate does most of the cooking; I do the chopping! But back to Christmas dinner. So we are going to set the table all fancy and use these cloth napkins my housemate got as a house warming gift last year. Between my mother and my housemate ~ everything will be beautiful. And I'm excited, but I have a secret! Shhhh, it's just between us. I have a special guest coming to dinner. Hunger. Yes you read it correctly ~ hunger. I am going to have a beautiful place set and have it left empty throughout the meal. I want to remind those present that many of our neighbors across the South Plains are struggling with hunger. While it is not the most pleasant topic ~ it is a truth we need to face. One in four adults on the South Plains is food insecure and one in five children are as well. Please join me this holiday season and invite Hunger to your table. Who knows how Hunger might season your dinner conversation!

Tour and Lunch

I survived my first U Can Share Food Drive and now I must confess. . . I got sick! Yes, I am not near as tough as everyone else who was out there braving the blistering winds, ice, and well all the other weather we had that Tuesday alone! So I took a few days off this week to recover. But now I am looking forward to tomorrow. It is our monthly tour and box lunch. First let me just say that Sheila and Brandon make a beautiful box lunch - so this not just some cold sandwich thrown together! Second, I have not been to one of our luncheons yet where I haven't been moved and gained an even greater understanding of why we come to work every day, why Darryle stands out on the dock giving out food boxes without regard to the freezing weather, and why so many of you donate your voice, your time, your food, and your money to assist us in our mission to alleviate hunger and give hope to the hungry. Join us any third Thursday of the month at noon and let us show you around. I think you will be moved as well. Call Karen at 763-3003 to r.s.v.p. I'll save you a place!

Still Excited

I ventured out here to the U Can Share Food Drive at the crack of dark Monday morning. I was filled with all the excitement and anticipation of a toddler at Christmas. The first day was full of awe and wonder as I had no idea what all to expect! Although the day was bitter cold, the smiles of the children and volunteers warmed me up quick. Everyone has the best attitude and just continues to work through all the elements that blew across 82nd and Frankford today! Ice, hail, rain, dust storm, and cold have not kept people from coming out and pitching in wherever help has been needed. It is almost the end of day two and still I am excited to be part of something so big and exciting. Skip, we have come a long way in 27 years! Thanks for getting us started. And thanks to all of those who have joined us along the way!

U Can Share Volunteers

As the day warms up and the roads are clearing volunteers are showing up to assist us in sorting the food we have already received. Since the wind is supposed to kick up later today, we have moved everyone inside the trailers. Our sponsor of the day - Rotary of Lubbock have several volunteers here on site working. These three Rotarians, from left: Wade Wilson, Dave Lewis, and Mark Clark have been here since about 9:30 a.m. Although it has taken a while for us to get food moved from the PODS containers to the United trailers for sorting, these gentleman have been on site ready to go to work! We will continue to pick up food throughout the day and take food people drop off here at the site. So if you want to brave the cold and roads, we are here and there is plenty to do around these parts. If you want to stay indoors, but still want to help - visit our website at www.spfb.org and U Can Still Share!

U Can Still Share

As the first day of the U Can Share Food Drive comes to a close - we the staff and volunteers are going to be braving the ice and cold to get out to the site. There is more food to be sorted and more will be coming in today that has to be sorted. Totals for yesterday were awesome - about 130,000 pounds of food and around $20,000. Our goals for this year are 500,000 pounds and $150,000. Please know that you don't have to get out in the weather to help the U Can Share Food Drive. There are lots of ways you can help: you can make a donation online, you can shop the online auction, you can follow us on Channel 11 as well as on twitter and facebook, and you can tell all your friends and family to donate, follow, and share the need with others. So please be safe today, but don't feel left out - U Can Still Share. 

Comfort Food

I am currently in Denver, Colorado. My best friend's father passed away over the Thanksgiving holiday, so I am here for the memorial service that will be held tomorrow. Upon arriving last night I noticed something right away - everyone began offering us something to eat. Many of the neighbors, friends, and family have brought food and there is enough to feed an army. Even now as I sit typing this blog, baking is going on in the kitchen. The first thing we did last night was eat. The first thing we did this morning was go eat breakfast at Einstein Bagel and as soon as we returned home - the chicken went on for the family favorite chicken spaghetti! We already have a place reserved for everyone to eat after the services tomorrow. I said all of this to say - food is a comfort for us and especially has we morn the passing of loved ones. There is comfort in breaking bread together, in cooking and tasting family dishes. As we are surrounded here in Denver by snow, family, friends, and food - I think about our Food Bank clients back home. Many of them have heat on these cold days because they had to choose between paying their heating bill and buying food. I hope that the food box they get today brings them hope and maybe even provides a little comfort food.