Twenty years ago, no one in my family believed that any of us would ever be hungry. We're healthy, hard working, well-educated, white (privileged), honest, moral, and most of us aren't bad looking. So how could we ever have hard times?
Yet, today, there are several among us who would be hungry if it weren't for food stamps, Social Security, good friends, family handouts and living from paycheck to paycheck - hoping car trouble, medical bills or layoffs won't catch us with empty cupboards.
The most difficult fact to accept is there is nothing we should have done differently. It was not a situation that we could control. We can make it a little better, or we can just flop over and let it happen. But we could not have avoided the financial crisis that threatens our grocery bill every week.
Several of us are guilty of aging. That's right. We're past 70. We have the health problems common to our age group - arthritis, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and just plain exhaustion. One welcome solution is low cost - or on those worst days - free meals provided by Loaves and Fishes. (No one is ever turned away, even though most guests try to pay $2.25 for lunch.) Recently I visited with the managers at two of the 16 Loaves and Fishes centers. In previous years I have received information about this service for seniors and sent a donation when I could. If you've never heard of them, you may want to check them out.
Loaves and Fishes recognize the most important aspects of healthy aging include eating better, moving better and maintaining social contact. Loaves and Fishes has been providing seniors with hot meals and opportunities for health, hope and friendship for more than 30 years.
Today, more than 5,000 volunteers prepare and deliver an average of 850,000 hot meals every year to seniors in the Portland metropolitan area. Each weekday, more than 300 volunteers prepare and deliver meals to people in need of these lifesaving services.
Adults, 60 years or older, are welcome at 16 community centers and sites located throughout Multnomah and eastern Washington counties. Seniors at highest nutritional risk can also receive meals through the weekend and holiday meals program. The organization is community based, emphasizes volunteer involvement and is financially sound. Funding is as follows: community support, 50.7 percent; government support, 36.8 percent; senior contributions, 9.2 percent; and investment earnings, 3.3 percent. Most of the labor is volunteer.
The Northeast Center was my first stop. Tyesis Gamble has been the manager for more than six years. Her sub-manager for the past year has been Mary Bea, who worked in the welfare system for 31 years before "retiring" to help at the Center. They serve lunches for $2.25, five days a week. No one is turned away if they cannot afford the full cost of the meal. A large percentage of the diners are on limited or fixed incomes. "Eating with friends" is a special treat.
Between 30 and 60 guests are served in the pleasant dining hall, and another 200 meals are delivered in the area.
The Northeast Center guests usually include 40 percent men and 60 percent women. The Center is co-located with the Urban League and services for seniors. Twice a week, an Easy Moves program provides instructions on how to stretch some muscles, warm up your joints and exercise your heart and lungs. The Urban League offers other activities for the seniors.
The menus are nutritious, attractive and tasty. The staff makes an effort to listen to their guests and provide "favorite" items as often as possible. Some favorites are Salisbury steak, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken, layered salad, banana bread and peach cobbler. Comments like, "I never make some of these things for myself. I can't afford the groceries," "I live alone - why would I make a roast or bake a pie?" And, "I can't use my stove anymore. I have left it on too many times," make the volunteers feel appreciated.
Next I visited with Marjorie Halford, who manages the Elmcourt location at 111 SW 10th. This center is accessible to many of the downtown homeless citizens. The front door offers cafeteria-style lunches seven days a week to about 140 guests per day. Usually 90 percent are men. The average income is $750 per month or less. About 30 percent are from shelters or homeless. The charge for the meal is $2.25, but no one is turned away. They provide about 200 meals a day out the back door. Marjorie has been a volunteer who has fed the hungry for more than 10 years. In addition to the lunches, the Elmcourt Center offers other activities.
The theme of these articles has been "Hungry In Portland." I try to show that there is help out there. Those who are hungry (especially seniors, this time) should know where they can find something to eat. Those who aren't hungry yet, (and I truly hope never will be) need to do what they can to support organizations such as Loaves and Fishes. Believe me, it's easier to give than to receive.