Tonight was one of those times where things worked out better than expected.
The Sunshine Place in Sun Prairie is a single point of access for the local food pantry as well as other community-focused charitable organizations. It opened in 2007 and serves the growing Sun Prairie Community.
Our church provides volunteers to the food pantry on Monday nights with a rotating cadre of helpful faces. Monica and I have been substitutes for many years, but we really don’t get called very often. Combine this back story with our high school daughters looking for volunteering opportunities to put on college applications and we have a match!
A few weeks ago we were called to sub and I accepted right away on the kids’ behalf. They were going to help and they were going to like it.
Of course my ulterior motive was to have the girls realize the fortunate circumstances in which they live…usually without much appreciation. If that’s all you experience, that’s all you know. Words describing the other side of the tracks are just words. Seeing the people and walking with them through the meager store should provide a more powerful message, right?
Right, indeed.
After about 30 seconds of training, Hannah jumped right in to help calculate points and process paperwork for the families in need. She was overly friendly and spoke to everyone coming through to welcome them and get them started.
Clare was a shopper helper like me and guided the families up and down the 4 aisles and the perimeter of the store. After an observational trip the first time, she was the first to grab other families to take them through on her own. She, too, was very friendly and chatty and usually found something in common to talk about.
The 2-hour shift went by quickly with about a dozen and a half families coming through the doors.
During a lull, without prodding, both girls expressed an interest in putting in more time at the food pantry to our coordinator. They asked questions and easily talked with the other (older) volunteers. “They were so cute!”
On the way out the door they reiterated their desire to come back soon and their outward enthusiasm made that a much more likely possibility.
The ride home with the girls was filled with stories about the people they met, their circumstances, and the good times they had.
Them: “It was so much fun!” Me: “Really?” Them: “Yeah!”
Much to my delight, the appreciation also sunk in. You could see the wheels turn as they thought about what life might be like if it was them humbling themselves looking for a helping hand.
Mission accomplished. We’ll be back for sure.