San Francisco Food Bank (http://www.sffoodbank.org/):
The SF Food Bank is pretty amazing; a huge warehouse full of all kinds of packaged and fresh foods that are delivered daily to soup kitchens, pantries, public schools, senior and childcare centers in a number of neighborhoods throughout SF and the surrounding area. They also open their warehouse up to some 300 plus charities a week to come and 'shop' for packaged and fresh foods. This city certainly has a high population of homeless folks, but it also tries to have a lot of outreach and support. Basically my shift was from 6pm-8pm and come 8pm I never wanted to leave I was having so much fun. This may sound like an odd compliment to give, but I was incredibly impressed with the organization of the Food Bank. I hate when you show up as a volunteer and the people running the event are all over the place, giving unclear instructions, not utilizing your resources...it's really discouraging and makes it not the most efficient use of time for anyone. The Food Bank was the opposite of inefficient. Along with about 30 other volunteers, 2 main "jobs" were neatly set up and assigned for the 2 hours; sorting donated packaged goods into bins, and packaging brown rice.
The food sorting didn't take very long at all seeing as there were so many of us (high schoolers, college students, peeps in their 20's and 30's). Once we got to the packaging of brown rice, I was in my glory. I swear I could work in a factory and be happy as a clam as long as I had two things; someone to have good conversations with and music playing in the background. I lucked out and was matched up with 3 fun women in their 30's and a male new college grad. I knew I'd like the ladies when one of them replied to my inquiry of 'what brings you to the food bank?' with "I drink too much. This is how I repent.". We instantly bonded over our desire to be the "winning" table (there was no contest, but I'm very Monica Gellar with competition) with the most packaged rice. College grad and my job was to seal the bags, label them, box 'em, weigh 'em....truly orgasmic as I got to use a sealer (I'm not kidding- I loved it). We did fake high kicks every time the girls in charge of bagging rice hit 1lb. exactly on their first scoop (the kicks were my idea), the wave when we filled a box, and created a team name of "The Mamas and the Papa"...which in retrospect is actually really gross considering all the controversy surrounding Makenzie Phillips' incestual relationship with her Dad, a founding M&P member. Woof. I digress. Mega props to the college grad for going along with this group of coo-coo women. We may have looked ridiculous to other tables, but I believe they were just jealous of the ass whopping we handed them. Even the volunteer coordinator for the night, JC, got into our antics--we were his favorite table and he eventually told me his life story while I sealed and labeled.
I can't wait to go back!
Glide (www.glide.org):
JC from the Food Bank recommended this place to me as a good soup kitchen to volunteer at...he did not disappoint with this rec....
I was accompanied by new friend Nicole in signing up for the lunch hour shift...and thank goodness she went with me. What JC had failed to tell me was that this church organization was located in a pretty poor, "rough" neighborhood...at least by the looks of it. I still have so much to learn about this city :-/. Nic and I took the bus where we were accompanied by a cute old African American man who had not one, but 2 lazy eyes. We had no idea where he was looking the entire ride. He spewed out advice and theories to us such as "everybody wants to get to heaven, but nobody wants to die!", and "you can't be scared to live or die." Thanks for the tips, cute old wonky eyes. Upon exiting at our stop Nic looked at me and accurately stated 'Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore'. In the 8 minute walk to the church one man on the street leaned in mere milimeters from my cheek and made a huge kissing noise (this both startled me and made me laugh) . Another had incense burning in his hair which I didn't realize at first so I said 'sir, your hair is on fire!' upon seeing smoke rise from his head (Nicole promptly pulled me away and pointed out the incense). It was certainly the most (and I use this term very generically) 'less fortunate' I'd seen in one 6 block radius in my life. I hated myself for wearing Coach sunglasses.
We arrived about 30 minutes early for our shift so were escorted to the kitchen where we, for the next 3.5 hours in our hair nets and gloves, chopped onions, celery, and peppers as well as made a plethora of ham sandwiches. The coordinator was named Bobby but nicknamed Bernie Mac--which was dead on. He teased Nicole for crying so much while cutting onions (suck it up, Nic!), was very organized, fast and sassy. He was also pretty funny. When he caught me putting 2 slices of ham on a sandwich he said "Two? No no, one...one! I'm not feedin' the Obamas!"
We also made friends with another volunteer named Willard, a tall, older African American man. My favorite things about Willard were our joint love of and sing-a-long to Whitney Houston's Million Dollar Bill (he was very impressed at my lyrical knowledge of the Motown radio station they had on) and his little one liners (which I'm so mad I didn't write down because I can only remember 2);
Me: Willard, where is your favorite place to live? (he's moved quite a bit)
Willard: My favorite place to live is in peace of mind! Don't matter where you are, it's what you make of your time there....
Fellow volunteer Willard is teasing: Hey! That's not funny!
Willard, cracking up: oh don't mind me, I'm just being serious!
I don't want to get all preachy now, but spending even just a few hours at the kitchen was a good reminder for me of how fortunate my family and I are in life. When it comes down to it, I know I will *never* have to worry where my next meal comes from. I can't imagine what some of these people deal with on a daily basis and I try really hard to not pass judgement...everyone has a story to tell, and hardly anything in this world is truly what it seems like it is from the outside.
I'm really excited because Bobby confirmed that I could volunteer at the kitchen on Thanksgiving! I can't think of a better way to spend the day if I can't be with my family.
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival:
Who doesn't love a fall festival!? This one had more pumpkin flavored foods than I'd ever seen in my life...so yum! My favorite little take away from the day was an art booth of the family run company called Village Clayworks (www.villageclayworks.com). Adorable pottery, ladies...would make super cute gifts!
the neyPod:
The Temper Trap- Sweet Disposition
Taylor Swift- Jump Then Fall
Glee Cast- Bust Your Windows
-trish
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