Making a List

Each Sunday evening I prepare for the coming week. A part of that process is reviewing a check list of items from a book I read years ago, Creativity in Business by Michael Ray and Rochelle Myers. The list hardly seems appropriate coming from a business book, but I've found the questions to be helpful in centering myself, looking back on what happened in the prior week, and planning for the week ahead. Perhaps these are good questions to consider as we look back on 2008 and prepare for the coming year...

1. Who or what was my teacher?
   
2. What did I learn?
3. What did my Voice of Judgment say?
4. What did I observe?
5. What did I forget?
6. How did I take care of myself?
7. What was my relationship to time?
8. What permission did I give myself regarding emotions?
9. What did I notice about love?
10. What truth did I find?
    

The Problem With Too Much Food

It's hard to believe, but only three months ago our shelves were nearly empty. Part of the problem back then was of our own doing. When other local food pantries get low on food, we tell them to stop by and we load them up with supplies. Sometimes we give away too much and put ourselves in a bind.

There's a balance we strive for... sending food where it's needed, while keeping enough to serve our our clients. As we move on from the holidays, when people are continually donating food, to the winter months where deliveries slow down, we do our best to share the wealth. One of our mantras is "It isn't our food... it belongs to the community."

No Sweat

One of our programs that doesn't get much publicity is being a site for court-ordered community service. We'll take on kids or adults for a variety of reasons: disorderly conduct, drug offenses, DUI, anything except theft.

When they first arrive, they're often reserved, not knowing how they will fit in. But we treat them like regular volunteers (no scarlet letters here). Most of the time, they have a good experience and some even come back to volunteer.

Every so often we're surprised how their time with us makes an impact. Take Nick, for example (not his real name). He's here to put in 20 hours for a DUI charge. He's pretty quiet, but willingly does what we ask of him. At one point in the day we were about to ask him to take out the trash and noticed that he didn't have a jacket. Turns out that he wore a hooded sweatshirt in that day, but he gave it to one of the men who came in to eat that morning. Nick said that the sweatshirt was kind of big on him... fit the other guy better anyway.

I guess we shouldn't be surprised - just because someone did something bad in the past doesn't make them a bad person...

Just Old Enough

Last week the kindergarten class from York Avenue Elementary School trekked to Manna on Main Street. With wagons in tow, they brought canned goods to donate to our food pantry. It's always fun to listen to young children who visit us and watch them respond to sights and smells of a soup kitchen.

I asked them a question: how old do you think you have to be to volunteer at Manna. Hands went up slowly, and they answered very seriously - 44 years old... 46... an adult. I responded with the same serious tone: they had to be at least 5 years old.

Faces brightened and hands shot in the air. "I'm 5" - "I'm 5 too" - "I'm 5". I told them how simple is was to volunteer, to give back to the community. They could carry a plate of food to someone at Manna. They could get someone a drink of water. They could cook something at home with their family and bring it in to serve.

They seemed satisfied with that, that giving back does not have to be complicated. Maybe they will remember to tell their parents.

No leftovers

He showed up late. It was nearly 12:45 and Manna's Thanksgiving dinner had started at 12:00. At first he thought he would just leave, but I talked him into coming in to take some food with him. When we arrived in the kitchen, we learned that all the leftovers had been handed out. There were slices of pie and an uncarved turkey, but everything else was gone. So I walked with him from St. John's Church where we served the meal, to Manna on Main Street, to check out the refrigerators there. I should have known - all the refrigerators were packed. There were bags of donated food all over the floor, down the hall and on the tables. The basement was filled with canned and boxed goods.

As I filled containers with turkey, stuffing, fresh vegetables and a half gallon of milk, he kept thanking me. I told him he was welcome and reminded him that I'm not responsible for the bounty, it's really this community. We shook hands, and then he headed off. I knew he didn't have a family or a home to go to, but at least he was fed for the day. He'll be back again on Saturday, next week, next year...

on the bridge between

The gentleman appeared out of nowhere. He indicated that he had heard of Manna on Main Street and the work we do. He wanted to contribute. Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he indicated the large financial gift he wanted to make. Then another individual came forward. She wanted to give an even larger gift. Now my eyes welled up with joy. We were going to be able to begin making plans for a new building. Our outreach to people in need was going to grow. There were suddenly so many new possibilities of doing good for our community.

Then just as suddenly they were gone. As I shifted to look around, I awoke from the dream and crashed back to reality. In a few hours I would be walking into a very small soup kitchen with limited capabilities.

Between then and now, I find myself on the bridge between the euphoria and sadness. We may not have unlimited funds or a large facility, but we have a lot. This past weekend was the Boy Scout food drive. Tons of food were donated by a generous community and more than fifty volunteers came to sort and stack the food. Every day, people show up to serve meals. And on my desk there is a small stack of checks from our regular supporters - modest amounts, but enough to carry us through.

The quick and easy fix, the lottery, the celebrity endorsement, can be alluring, but are mostly distractions. We remain on the bridge between, and look forward to the possibilities ahead. More good will certainly come our way.

From...

The Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, was born in A.D. 121. In the book Meditations, he begins with reflections from various individuals in his life. He relates that from his father he learned good morals and the government of his temper. From his mother he learned piety and beneficence. From various mentors and teachers, a benevolent disposition, a love of truth and justice, and an inclination to do good. All things that are relevant and have a place in our society today.

It made me think about what I learn each day from the individuals who frequent Manna on Main Street. From the people who come to the soup kitchen, I learn humility, how to laugh at the absurdities of life, how to cry at the injustice, and how to say thank you. From the volunteers, I learn about a generous heart, compassion for people in need, and a steadfastness in showing up every day. And from the other staff members I learn about commitment to a cause, joy in lifting up others, and living life on purpose.

New Arrival

This week we had a new refrigerator delivered, courtesy of a grant from the Longacre Family Foundation. When the truck arrived, we found we would need to improvise a bit - the driver expected us to have a loading dock to unload the 500 pound unit. Since there was none, we made a few phone calls to our friendly neighbors. Town & Country Auto Parts sent over their fork truck, the Boys & Girls Club provided a few young, strong helpers, and Bob Fritz, one of our regular volunteers came over as well. In the pouring rain, each of them willingly pitched in, and less than an hour later we squeezed the refrigerator through the front door. This type of effort is so typical, where we call on caring members of the community, who really do the work to make our outreach possible.

Napkin Etiquette

A number of years ago, a friend of mine was volunteering for another organization, helping set up for a dinner benefit. The instructions from the staff member in charge were simple enough - set out plates, napkins and silverware. A mom and her daughter were walking around with the napkins, folding them in half, while my friend followed behind them with the silverware. They were about half-way finished when the staff member came back and began chastising them for not folding the napkins properly - they were supposed to have been folded corner-to-corner.

When I share this story with staff members and volunteers at Manna on Main Street they have to laugh because it's so contrary to how we do things here. We ask our helpers to do things like they do at home. We are not so concerned with how people are fed, but that everyone is fed. So the Tuesday volunteers might have a different method of serving than the Wednesday crew, but that doesn't matter. By doing it their own way, they have a greater sense of ownership. And in the end, everyone is satisfied.

Ten Years After

From Jean...

I honestly don’t know what I would have done without Manna on Main Street.

Starting 10 years ago when I was very ill,my friend, Pete, introduced me to Dolly. I had moved into Lansdale, had 2 teenagers to raise while I was going threw a few years of Chemotherapy and spending weeks at a time in Philadelphia Hospital.

I wasn’t expected to live so the doctors slammed me with all kinds of chemotherapy. I was so sick and Dolly kept a close eye on me and my children. Manna helped so much with transportation to the hospital, picking up medications, bringing me food, helping pay bills. For awhile I was unable to get out of bed.

When I could I wanted so much to do something for Manna. I noticed that there was a lot of area I could garden. So much beautiful work is done inside; I wanted to make it beautiful outside. I was still on Chemotherapy so I had to avoid the sun. I usually gardened from 1 am till about 5:30 am, just me and my dog, Sparky.

I put flowers everywhere I could and even ended up putting them around the church.

Without the help of Mana, gardening therapy and the treasured friendship of Dolly. I could have never gone threw what I did, while raising my children (Who are doing great and have given me 5 grandchildren).

The doctors tell me that it is amazing I survived.

I know that without Manna, St. John’s Church, Dolly, friends, my children and especially all of your prayers; I would not be standing in front of this beautiful garden now, 10 years later.

Anticipation

Why would anyone be standing around watching a cow, waiting for it to "plop" on a particular piece of ground. The reason is simple - it was the Annual Cow Plop, a fund raising event sponsored by the Merck Sharpe & Dohme Federal Credit Union. They sell deeds for $10 each which are plotted out on a field. A cow is set free, and when the cow plops on a site, the winner receives 20% of the total proceeds (this year over $6,000). The rest of the funds go to Manna on Main Street and another local food cupboard to help with hunger relief. This is just another example of how our creative community finds ways to give back and make a difference in the lives of people in need.

Enough is Enougn (sometimes)

People come to us every day looking for financial aid. They need oil for their home, assistance with rent or utilities, or help with medical bills. Some folks come back to us more than once, and it can be difficult deciding when to stop helping someone. There are times, however, when $5 in aid can be too much (when able-bodied, able-minded adults continue to make bad choices) and when $1,000 can be not enough (when kids or the elderly are victims of circumstances). We have policies in place to provide rough boundaries, but policies and procedures can also be barriers - we still must listen with a caring heart... and an attentive mind.

Chaos Theory

Sometimes we use the phrase “chaos is good.” We don’t mean that in the context of how we do our planning or structure programs, but in the situations that arise out of the daily activities in our soup kitchen. A case in point is from last Thursday, when ten high-energy teenagers from Tohickon Middle School arrived to help serve the afternoon meal. If you haven’t been inside Manna on Main Street, the amount of operating space we have is very small, and in a short period of time, chaos ensued. Teens were crammed in the kitchen, then running with plates of food along a cramped hallway to a crowded eating area. A group of the kids wound of going outside and working at a card table to put together snack bags for the local Boys & Girls Club. Naturally, they couldn’t stay outside all the time, and were running in and out. And as the time for serving came to a close, there was a mad scramble for colored markers as the youth found an open space on the wall to sign their names. While it may seem unstructured and out of control, a lot of good comes out it. Young people learn about serving people in need, perform vital hands-on service and have some fun along the way.

Gangs on Call

We're pretty fortunate. Whenever we run low on food for our pantry, we have a number of groups we can call for help. For the past couple of years the Iron Eagles Motorcycle Club has been amazing in their support. We call them and they show up with a truck-load of food. At the same time, we try not to go back to the same people too frequently. They have families to support too.

The spirit of giving is a real reflection on the kind of community we live in. When people become aware of the needs, they respond in big way. As you can imagine, the need for food has risen dramatically. We've been running low on canned tuna fish and would really appreciate having that available for the families who come to Manna for food. So now that you're in the know, help if you can, and pass this message along. Thanks!

Summer Help

His mother wanted him to have something to do this this summer, and so Alex wound up coming in to Manna on Main Street, 8 hours a day, three days a week. At first he wasn't sure how everything would work out, but it wasn't too long before he started feeling at home.

Alex helped with cooking food and serving, but what he enjoyed most was the people. By the end of the summer, Alex was concerned that he wouldn't be here to help his new friend Harry, an older gentleman who helps stock our shelves.

Alex is just another example of how young people become involved and help make a difference in our community.

Backpacks, Books and Clowns

It’s the third Saturday in August and that means it’s time for the annual Back-to-School Picnic. The parents come to Manna on Main Street’s food pantry, and so their kids can get a free backpack and school supplies for the coming year. Part of me wants to yawn. We’ve been organizing the event for more than 10 years and for some reason, this year, it’s almost a numbing routine.

Three weeks before the event the backpacks show up. The Salvation Army supplies about 750 to us each year (Manna on Main Street is also a Salvation Army station). Shortly after that we talk with the local Kiwanis Club, who will grill the hamburgers and hot dogs the day of the picnic. They also provide the notebooks, markers, paper and other goodies to go into the packs. A teen from Manna on Main Street’s Youth Advisory Board has organized another successful book drive – he collected over 1,100 books for the kids to fill in their backpacks. Then we make the final arrangements for food and drinks.

Just the regular routine, I think to myself. We’ll have over 70 kids registered for the picnic and about 35 will show up. It’s not that they’re ungrateful… other things come up, parents forget or for some other reason they just don’t get there. The parents know that they’ll be able to call and pick up the supplies anyway, so there are no hard feelings. We just want to make sure the kids have what they need to start school.

This year, the activities at the picnic will be a little different. Clown Alley, a local comic club will come out to put on free show. They’ll do a few tricks, dress the kids up in silly costumes and have them parade around; should be pretty cute. Still, it’s hard for me get too enthused about the day.

When I arrive, it’s the usual scene. The Aktion Club is there in full force. It’s the special needs group of adults, part of the Kiwanis. They’re excited about the clowns coming and they enjoy being out among people. And so the day moves on - we hand out backpacks, kids gather arms full of books to take home, everyone has something to eat and then they all move closer to the clown station. The entertainers really get into their routine, and the kids seem to enjoy it as well. While the show is going on, Nick, a member of the Kiwanis comes up to me.

“Hey, see the kid with blond hair, the one wearing the blue cape?” he said pointing in the direction of the clowns.

“What about him?” I ask.

But rather than replying to my question, he starts to explain, almost apologizing. “You know, I wasn’t sure I was going to come back next year. But that kid. I was watching him, stuffing books in his backpack. He looked up at me and he had this big smile on his face. And you know what he said to me?

“No, what?”

“This is the best day of my life!”

Nick looked off and shook his head. “Yeah, you can count on me for next year.”

“You know what, Nick? I think I’ll make it too.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What’s your mission statement? Do you have a strategic plan? What new programs have you developed? What measurements do you have in place to determine their impact? A lot of smart people ask very good questions about what we do. I tell them: we do backpacks, books and clowns.

A picture is worth...

It seemed appropriate to not have a photo today. While pictures can show us something that is, the lense has not yet proven itself in expressing all the things in our lives. I think about the idea behind the creation of Manna on Main Street, “that everyone might be fed”. We have compelling pictures of needy people being served at the table, and grateful working-poor filling bags with food donated by others. But how we “feed” the community goes beyond that.

Young people come to perform community service. They may have to do it for school or for Scouts or because they got into trouble. We “feed” them by showing them how they can serve and help others; how they can enrich lives by just being there to talk with someone who’s lonely.

A single mom on disability signs up her teenage daughter for the cosmetology class at the local technical school, knowing full well she can’t afford the $300 cosmetology kit that’s required. We cover the cost of the kit, helping pave the way for a girl to pursue her dream of becoming a hair stylist.

He’s in a wheelchair, without a penny to his name. His best friend has died, and he has nothing to wear to the funeral. We buy him a suit.

The stories go on and on. People are in need… we feed them. No pictures, no words, even, can capture it all.

Sun, Sand, Soup

While away on vacation, I was overwhelmed by the beauty and simplicity of what surrounded me. The amazing red orb sinking over the horizon, and the fine sand, still warm from the heat of the day. And soup... while not immediatly before me, was ever present in my mind. It was comforting to know that while I was away, that people in need were being filled as well.

support

Walking by this old barn, you could almost hear the moaning and shifting of the structure. The side roof looks like it should have given up years ago, but it continues to stand. Now a simple 2x4 keeps it from crashing to the earth.

It reminded me of our work at Manna. What we often do is a temporary fix... we help pay the rent for an elderly couple, cover the utilities for a young family, take care of a prescription for a single mom. They creak, they struggle to make it, and we step in to prop them up so they can make it to the next day. It's not elaborate or fancy, just necessary. We keep them from crashing.

Multiplication Theory

Stephanie, Maddie and Sarah had an idea. They were going to make custom bookmarkers, sell them and give the proceeds to Manna on Main Street. After successfully marketing and making a variety of bookmarks, they wound up with $50. A pretty nice result.

But then, the multiplication factor kicked in. One of the parents decided to match their contribution. Then an uncle said he would do the same. After that, a local business promised to match what they raised. In the end, the girls were able to donate $250. This proved to be a very valuable lesson for them - they learned that by doing something small, but with great care, they can help inspire others to do good . It is instructive for us as well...

Nobody of the Year Award

This past week, Manna on Main Street was recognized as the Non-Profit of the Year, by the North Penn Chamber of Commerce. Naturally, we approciate the award, because it helps validate what we do and recognizes the 1,000+ volunteers that make our works possible.

There's one volunteer in particular that makes this award particulalry meaningful. We'll call him Sammy. He would certainly qualify as a nobody. Sammy is a special adult with autism. He regularly shows up at Manna on Main Street events and helps with the mundane tasks of moving tables and chairs, emptying the trash. He tends to keep to himself, so no one really notices him. Sammy never complains, looks for any special recognition or asks for anything; he just does what we ask of him. Sammy will probably never win any award, but it is people like him that make Manna a special place... a place where everyone is welcome and can make a difference.

Let Them Eat Quiche

It was in May 2006. Leah, then a student at the University of Maryland, came to Manna on Main Street with a couple trays of quiche. Then a few days later she arrived with more... then a week later, even more. She finally explained that she was working on a project - an art sculpture for school. Each day she would take eggs, poke a hole in each end and use a syringe to blow-out the egg. Leah would then bake the shells to strengthen than, and rather than waste the eggs, decided to make quiche for Manna's guests. Not only was she creative in her project, she also stretched her thinking in what good she could do with the "waste". Perhaps we can all think a little harder on how we can contribute... take the left-overs in our lives and put them to better use.

Cinco de Mayo meets Mayo de Sinko

Each year Manna on Main Street celebrates Cinco de Mayo by asking groups to collect jars of mayonnaise for our food pantry. We ask groups to take this on as a project and encourage them to decorate the jars with a Mexican theme. This year 8th & 9th grade students from Tohickon Middle School in Doylestown participated and provided mayo with some very cool decorations. Some of the folks who came in for food were a little puzzled at first when they saw their food had dresses, hats and eyeballs, but they appreciated having mayonnaise available (most folks don't think of donating it). So in the end, the students had fun and our clients enjoyed it as well.

Packed In

One of the challenges, and yet part of the fun, is having groups in to serve at Manna on Main Street. While the kitchen is small and our dining area can accomodate only 20 guests, it proves to be a rewarding experience for everyone. And so different groups will show up... church groups, Brownies, Scouts, business teams... in the end, people are fed and those who serve are satisfied as well.

Sign of the Times - Part II

The sign on our front lawn was looking worn (see Post dated Jan. 7, 2008), so we asked one of our volunteers to remove it so the sign could be repainted. To refinish the sign, Derstine Sandblasting in Souderton sandblasted the sign at no charge, Sign-A-Rama in Lansdale donated their services to paint the sign, then Gouldey Welding of Souderton welded the sign to its post free of charge.

The generosity of these individuals and companies is a true reflection of our community. From the donation of the building, to putting the finishing touches to the sign, many good people support the cause of serving people in need by giving what they can.

Sit on it...

… was the admonition. It was in response to homelessness in the San Diego area. A merchant organization was looking for volunteers to sit on the public benches for three-hour shifts. Seems they wanted to keep street people from sleeping there. They forewarned the potential volunteers: “no bathroom breaks” to prevent anyone from sneaking in to take a seat. How interesting that they were willing to make their volunteers uncomfortable to aid in the discomfort of those who rarely enjoy any comforts. What a contrast to the mindset in our town of Lansdale. Caring neighbors go out of their way to notify us when they see someone who might be homeless, hungry or sick. They ask us if we’ve seen that person, or if there’s some way they could help. Even during the winter months, Lansdale appears to be a warmer place than San Diego.

Last Piece of Cake

John is left holding his last piece of birthday cake. Lisa and the other Thursday morning soup kitchen volunteers celebrated John's birthday this past week. John serves every Monday and Thursday and often prepares food early in the morning to serve. We appreciate how John, Lisa and the other regular volunteers help us take care of people in need.

Always Open (almost)

When it snowed this past Friday, most of the local agencies closed down. That makes sense. Looking at the big picture, the safety of the people who run the organizations should come first. Manna on Main Street has an advantage, however: everyone who works there lives within walking distance. So while there were only three customers who stopped in that morning, there was hot soup, tuna salad and an amazing pasta dish waiting for them.

Scouting for Food

The Cub Scouts of Pack 152, sponsored by the Upper Gwynedd Lions’ Club, recently helped Manna on Main Street sort and pack food donations. This past Saturday they ventured to our storage unit to sort and distribute canned and boxed goods. We are grateful to have such willing helpers who help us serve people in need.

Sign Me Up

One of the benefits of serving at Manna on Main Street is getting to sign the wall (or door, or ceiling, or window). Young people especially like it because it's something they can't do at home, and it also gives them a sense of ownership. They also get leave a part of themselves behind. There is one problem, however, in that we're starting to run out of sign-in space.

I Love My Griddle

One of the wonderful things about our community is how they want to help others. Business teams often come to Manna on Main Street to serve a meal. A group from Aetna recently served a pancake breakfast, which our guests really enjoyed. Food is something we all have in common, and it is heartening to see how a simple meal can bring people together.

Sign of the Times

Manna on Main Street has made its home at 514 West Main Street for more than 24 years, and the sign out front was in pretty bad shape. So we had one of our volunteers remove the sign and scape off the peeling paint in preparation for having it repainted. Beneath the surface we found the original lettering of the sign. Robert Schultz previously owned the building, operating a building & loan association. It is a good reminder that our founding was built upon the commitment and generosity of the good people in this community.