Thoughts from the end of the food pantry assembly line

8:53. It’s about time you took this opportunity to give back.

9:01 Sure, I’ll load the pallets.
4 boxes vertical. 3 horizontal. Repeat. Got it.

These boxes are heavier than I thought.
The heft can’t be from the two small bags of pasta,
it has to be the generic canned goods.
Regardless, it’s not much to last a family for a week.
That’s what each box is – a family in need.
66 million were packed here last year.

It’s safe to say all of them would kill to be getting paid their full salary to not work for a year.
Stop worrying. If you really have faith, then believe.
Real fear is an eviction notice with nowhere to go, a positive test, a negative balance.

9:21. Almost two and a half hours to go.
Maybe it’s the other way around.
Maybe true peace of mind isn’t found by looking at what’s in the checking account.
Maybe it’s about love and trust and faith and love…
the stuff you can’t put a price on.
The stuff that is so easily taken for granted.

The group is setting a pretty good pace – definitely going to be sore later.
More twisting and turning than a Six Flags roller coaster.
Probably should have hung up this shirt jacket.
It’s hotter than expected.

That’s ok, service like this shouldn’t be comfortable.
This is nowhere close to the reality these families live every minute of every day.
Remember this when you walk out the door –
how you worst day and your worst fear pales in comparison to what these people are going through.

The people that have the least give the most.

9:23. Felt like longer than that.
Packers gave that game away.
Who kicks a field goal on the 8-yard line?
Can’t have 25+ years of MVP/HOF QBs and only win two Super Bowls…

This is real-life Tetris.
Get the edges of these boxes as close to plum as the cardboard and warped pallet wood allow.
It’s satisfying to have a job without an inbox. Just an assignment.
A goal. When it’s done, it’s done.
Had a job like that once, piling one bag of water softener salt on top of the other.
What were the names of those Farm & Fleet people again? Terry? Kevin? Justin? Ron?
The kid that I picked up every Saturday? Bill? Wonder what those guys are doing.

10:41. Getting closer.
Why give the time if all you’re going to do is keeping counting it down?
Kinda defeats the purpose don’t you think?

They would trade places with you in a second.

You’ll find your answers here. Believe that.

The people that have the least give the most.

The girl on the tape gun in front of me is good. Never lets the tape get stuck on the roll.
That always happens to me.
Make sure to keep up to not slow her down.
Sorry for the backup. Take two boxes at a time and things will get back on track.

10:42. Seriously?
Forget not eating meat on Fridays… this is a better “sacrifice” for Lent. Come here every Friday.
Maybe it will inspire you to go even further down the line, to truly and literally feed the poor.
Keep saying yes.
Keep pushing yourself further and you’ll get right where you need to be.

It’s good you are finally doing this.
It was one of the goals you write down when everything happened in November.
Crazy how much time has already gone by.
Whatifthingsdontworkout? Whatifnoonecalls? Whatifthere’snotenoughforschoolorlifeorretirementorcobra?
Oh, yee of little faith.
You are right where you are supposed to be.

The people that have the least give the most.
The harder the work, the lower the salary.

11:03. It seems like the time should go faster

It was something you didn’t want. Why do you care?

You bring him here. Never too early to show them how lucky we’ve got it.
Might already be too late. Maybe it’s never too late.
They’d probably have him packing cans.
Not sure if he’d hold up breaking down the cardboard or making boxes.

Thanks for the water man.
It’s cold and refreshing like the perfectly timed breeze on a summer afternoon run.
Exactly what you need to keep going.

The people that have the least give the most.

11:56. Six more and it’s a wrap.
1,232 boxes. Give yourselves a pat on the back.
That doesn’t feel right. The other group probably did the same.
So will the two groups that come in the afternoon.
And the ones on Saturday and Sunday and Monday and …
It never stops.
The need never ends for you to stand up, walk in their shoes and be them.
So you can make a difference, make a statement
make no15e.