I’ve been interested in feeding the hungry all my life. It’s why I volunteer at soup kitchens and the reason why I was asked to move from my alley encampment a year ago.
I became a trusted alley dweller, and the local businesses started paying me to clean the area. I got my hands on a little Weber grill that someone was throwing away, and I used my alley cleaning pay to buy hot dogs, buns, condiments, charcoal briquettes, etc. I grilled up those cheap wieners every week and handed them out to anyone who rolled through my alley, including vagabonds and families with hungry children who live in the Seattle Housing Authority building down the way and whose food stamps may have run out near the end of the month.
However the superintendent of the building across from my alley doorway, while appreciative that I kept the alley clean and drug-free, was somewhat petulant and complained of the smell of my barbecue because I sprinkled rosemary from my P-Patch plot on the briquettes for a lovely flavor and aroma. I was promptly asked to leave by the owner of the business who had let me live in her back doorway for nearly two years. I complied.
I pay particular attention to the folks who feed people and would like to pay them homage.
There are several organizations — church groups and activists — that care about people so much that they risk repercussions by the city by organizing what I call “guerrilla feeds.” These are unsanctioned feeds, usually once weekly, that feed dozens of people, likely hundreds.
There is a couple that makes simple sack lunches with a sandwich, banana, chips and a bottle of water. They drive around with the lunches in their trunk, stopping to feed anyone they see on the street.
My personal favorite is a vegetarian dish given every Saturday by a family of Sikhs. They serve a beautiful coconut curry sauce over rice. There is also a family that owns a store of a popular pizza franchise. They donate 30 to 50 pizzas every week. Everyone gets a pizza. This family brought their two young children to a Christmastime feed a couple of years ago, parents and children all interacting with the folks waiting in line for food, and it struck me as so endearing, generous and uplifting. Inspirational.
There is another group who serves hot dogs and chili every Sunday along with sack lunches that contain bottled water, a PBJ, fruits, snacks and desserts. They also have a very young child, a little girl all of maybe five, helping to hand out those sack lunches to people waiting in line for their hot food. I think it is a wonderful thing to teach your children from a very young age that there are people less fortunate who are hungry and may need assistance. Children can be a part of that assistance. It teaches them that there are selfless, rewarding acts that people can do for others, and hopefully the kids continue the practice throughout their lives.
There are many organizations that do guerrilla feeds: Food not Bombs, some Korean church groups, Baptists, caring families and many others. On behalf of the homeless and hungry, I thank and applaud you for your kindness and generosity. It has not gone unnoticed, and is incredibly appreciated by all, whether or not everyone expresses their thanks to you.
Justin Seher is a Real Change vendor.
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