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Working Families Seek Food Assistance

8/11/2021

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by Maureen McNair
​Every winter for many years, the volunteers at our Hillcrest Interfaith Shelter Network site, which hosts homeless guests for two weeks, prepare for our guests’ arrival by watching an instructional video. The video does not tell volunteers how to organize meals or set up cots we borrow. Instead, the video features homeless guests from prior shelters who speak to us directly about how to engage them in conversation.
Guests want to be be greeted in a friendly way. They do not want to answer personal questions about why they are in the circumstances in which they find themselves. 
It is this video that has guided me in how how I speak to food pantry clients. I don’t ask anyone why they and their family need free food. If someone asks for food, we give it to them. 
During the most difficult times of the pandemic when no vaccines were available, any conversation with pantry guests was pretty limited for health and safety reasons. It was pretty difficult to develop any kind of relationship.  
Volunteers and pantry guests continue to work outdoors and wear masks. But, now that most volunteers and, I assume, at least some of our guests are vaccinated, there is more ease of conversation. So, some people I have seen in passing for many months talk openly about themselves now. 
I am surprised at how many of our pantry guests have good jobs. I expected people who were unemployed or under-employed to come to our pantry. And they do. I expected small business owners to come to our pantry, especially since most of their businesses were shut down for many months. And small business owners do come to our pantry every Saturday. 
Some small business owners have reopened, but still need food assistance. At least one former business owner said they lost their ​business during the pandemic, but with our help, are able to hold onto their house. 
What has surprised me is how many people with what seem like good jobs come through our pantry line. A court interpreter. A civil service employee at North Island. A public school teacher’s aid. These are all decent jobs with decent benefits. Paychecks and benefits continued throughout the pandemic. 
What I hear from people is that the cost of food is too high, especially if they have children to feed.  
You can all be proud of the variety and high quality of food we give away to help out these families. I know the need is real. Back when I taught elementary school in Chula Vista, I remember visiting a second grade student at the public campground where he lived in a small trailer with his family. When I arrived, the kids were eating dinner on an outdoor picnic table. Dinner was a shared bag of Oreo cookies. 
This past Saturday, we gave everyone a big variety of nutritional food — artisan bread, a tray of frozen meat or chicken, a bag of dry goods, an ample bag of food donated from Starbucks, and three bags of fresh produce — tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, red bell peppers, corn on the cob, cantaloupes, and oranges.  
Our continued, reliable presence is important to this community. Thank you for your continued support!
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(619) 298-9978  |  Staff Directory
Hillcrest campus 4190 Front Street, San Diego, CA. 92103  |  South Bay campus 970 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA. 91911
  For GPS to our Hillcrest Campus, please use 298 W Arbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92103
For directions, parking and more see our Contact page.
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  • Home
  • Worship
    • Messages
    • Online Worship
    • Participate in a Service
    • Principles & Sources
  • Connections
    • Welcome Newcomers! > >
      • Visiting First UU
      • What is UUism?
      • Become a Member
    • Groups from A-Z > >
      • Affinity Groups
      • Archives
      • Art Guild
      • Christian Study Group
      • Earth Centered Spirituality Circle
      • Looking Glass Theatre
      • Meditation
      • Men's Fellowship
      • Neighborhood Groups
      • UU Seniors
      • Wisdom Circles
    • Member Networking
    • Listening Circles
    • Restorative Process
  • Music
    • Vocal Ensembles
    • Handbell Ensemble
    • Children and Youth Music Program
  • Education
    • Children's RE > >
      • Family Ministry Library
      • Children's RE Registration
    • Adult Faith Formation
    • Family Ministry > >
      • All Church Camp
    • Youth Programs
    • Young Adult & Campus Ministry
    • Our Whole Lives (OWL)
    • SD Co-op Preschool
  • Programs
    • Caring
    • Food Pantry
    • Larger UU Connections > >
      • Denominational Relations
      • Friends of De Benneville Pines
      • Philippines Partner Church
      • Transylvania Partner Church
      • UU Service Committee
    • Leadership Development
    • Social Justice > >
      • Social Justice Executive Team
      • Climate Justice
      • Generosity Offerings
      • Organizing for Justice
      • Palestine-Israel Justice Group
      • Rainbow Action
      • Reproductive Justice
      • Sanctuary
      • SOLACE
      • Uptown Community Service Center
    • Ushering
  • Giving
    • Donations > >
      • Pledging
      • Planned Giving
      • Donate Your Vehicle
      • Donate Flowers
    • Dining for Dollars D4$
    • B&B Program > >
      • B&B Guest Registration
      • B&B Hosting > >
        • B&B Host Application
    • Specialty Sale
    • Shop and Support!
  • News
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    • The Window - Weekly Bulletin
    • First Words Magazine
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      • Facilities Use Request Form
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    • Governance > >
      • Article II
      • 8th Principle
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