This is my 50th Feeding Team feature column, and even as I shake my head in disbelief over that statement, I’m taken back by the very nature of what is happening in our county.
It will come as a shock to no one that life is particularly hard right now. The costs of energy, food, housing, healthcare, and just getting by are as tough to manage as we’ve seen in the last several years. The “rising cost of getting by” as Don Williams sang about, forces tougher choices onto families. Yet, here in Hamilton County people still give. The redeeming qualities of the people in Hamilton County are both a light of encouragement and a demonstration of how charitable folks around here really are.
Then there’s Edgar (not his real name). Edgar is in his early 20s, and we met him recently at one of our office food pickup days. He was born and raised right here in Hamilton County. Edgar lives in a lean-to on a horse farm. He rides his bike to various pantries around the county to secure his meals. Edgar’s backstory is none of my business. He needs food to get by and Feeding Team can help him along his present path.
His story reminded me of the “ripple” effect of giving and now its impact on Edgar’s life. As a young boy, I learned about the impact of dropping a heavy rock into a pond – the initial splash combined with that distinct “plop” sound, followed by dozens and dozens of ripples flowing through the water. It was particularly fun to do as a kid, unless my dad was fishing, in which case I’d be sentenced to sitting quietly on the lawn chair for scaring off the bass he was trying to catch.
Here is the point:
Four layers of giving had to occur for Feeding Team to receive the MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) that ultimately ended up in Edgar’s backpack: from volunteers to donors to other volunteers to other donors ultimately to Feeding Team and then to Edgar.
The ripple impact of your charity has a real and tangible impact on neighbors in Hamilton County. When you donate non-perishable food items or monetary donations to Feeding Team, it is just like the stone tossed into the water. It has a ripple effect, helping many of our neighbors. Ultimately your donation blesses the families receiving the donation, but it also blesses those involved.
The volunteers who loaded Edgar’s backpack with food were incredibly impacted while doing so. They were moved to tears learning his story and making sure that he had what he needed for the next week. Your charity has a ripple effect on you, too, those who you help, and those who serve your donations to others. It makes you feel good helping others, and we, too, are honored to receive your donations, and then those families that receive from your donations feel better about their situation.
Together, we help families meet basic food needs and as a result our community benefits.
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With over 44,000 food-challenged neighbors in Hamilton County, FeedingTeam.org is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides outdoor 24/7/365 no-questions-asked free food pantries throughout the county.
The pantries exist to meet the food insecurity needs of gap families, neighbors who may not qualify for public assistance and could use a few meals before payday. The pantries serve as many food-challenged neighbors as possible, and our hearts are with those who, like my family, could not always make ends meet.
Thank you for supporting the pantries. We love serving with so many neighbors across Hamilton County. In future columns, we will share more stories about how your generosity served neighbors in times of need. The face of hunger in Hamilton County is not what you may think.
In practical terms, this straightforward way to help neighbors is having real impact on lives, families, and our communities. Thank you. A few meals can change the course of a person’s life. A can of green beans means so much more when you have nothing to feed your kids.
Would you like to get involved? Volunteer opportunities are available. We are evaluating new pantry locations. If you think you have a potential location, please contact us.
Mark and Lisa Hall are the Founders of Feeding Team. They may be reached at lisa@feedingteam.org and mark@feedingteam.org or by calling (317) 832-1123.