So, I was going to skip writing a column this month. I’ve really struggled coming up with something to write- then it hit me! What if our neighbors that we help could say, “I think I’ll skip this month. I don’t feel like being hungry!” It was at that point I told myself, “Kent--suck it up and put some work into writing a column. Quit being a whiner. You have it easy compared to what 89,000 plus of your neighbors go through every day. 89,000 of your neighbors who depend on you.” Anyway…you get the picture and, in a few minutes, you’ll get a column.
My job requires me to travel once in a while. Last week I was in Chicago at the invitation of Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, the CEO of Feeding America. This week I spent three days in Washington DC, meeting with elected officials, sharing stories of the struggles of our food-insecure neighbors. I walked out of the Russell Senate building into a falling rain. As I walked across the Capital lawn to the Rayburn House Building, I was getting wetter and wetter, asking myself “why didn’t you grab the umbrella that the hotel put in the closet for their guests to use?” Needless to say, I was both frustrated and feeling sorry for myself. Then I saw the homeless person. I think you can guess how the conversation with myself went from that point on. Sometimes Kent has to have a pretty frank conversation with Kent and remind him just how good he has it.
Every Monday I send a brief note to the staff called Mission Monday. This is from Monday, February 24. I think it is worth sharing with you.
I had an absolutely wonderful morning last Saturday!!! You see about 7:30 am I received a text from Lauren telling me that some of their volunteers who were scheduled to work Feed Rogers were not going to make it and she asked if I could come in. It was the first time I have worked a shift at Feed Rogers for a long time and it was just the ticket I needed to get re-excited about what we do for so many people. You’ve heard me talk about seeing the look on our neighbor’s faces (in fact the commercial we are currently running talks specifically about that). SATURDAY MORNING I SAW THAT LOOK on nearly every person who came in, and boy did we have a lot that came in after being closed all week.
In addition, I saw the face of compassion in Lauren, Rosario, Eleazar, and all of our volunteers, including Diana. My heart was full when I left.
I encourage each of you to find a couple of hours in your busy lifestyle to volunteer at Feed Rogers. I promise you it will take your commitment to our mission to the next level.
In closing, let me refer to a note that is on the corkboard behind my desk. “When we feed our communities, we feed more than hunger. We feed someone’s hopes, dreams, opportunities and possibilities.” I don’t know who the author of those words is, but I read and reflect on them every day. Circling back to the start of this column, sometimes Kent needs to remind Kent that it’s not all about Kent and that Kent needs to keep the neighbors we serve at the center of what he does each and every day.
Because of you, someone will eat today
K
