I live downtown in Marigny. Bought a house downtown because I loved jazz. When my kids were small, I used to throw out their Easter candy. Mean mommy? Maybe. But I couldn’t take another four-year-old temper tantrum after a binge of sugar.
Before kids, I loved the nightlife of downtown. After kids, I noticed the down-and-outs of the neighborhood. Folks who have seen the hard side of life. Clothes dirty. A faraway look in their eyes.
There was a spell when the trash bags in our cans would be opened. Each one torn, the contents spilled all over. Boy, was I mad. The litter and old food strewn about. Like I needed another thing to clean. Another mess. I was a twin mom, after all.
After Dad died, it hit me one day as I was unloading groceries out of the car, the hatchback open. Like Paul falling from his horse. The needy. I never really thought about anyone besides myself, my friends, and my family.
But Dad did. He used to greet the woman who rang our bell, asking for stamps. The rest of us hid when we saw her coming down the street. Dad met her, listened to her, always gave her something.
Suddenly, on my block, there they were everywhere. Hungry. One day I was taking out the trash, and there he was, this young man. Maybe twenty. I asked him what he was looking for in my trash. Something to eat, he said. I told him I’d grab him something from my kitchen.
He said he looked in every bag because last week someone had thrown away all this chocolate. Ooof. What I threw away so cavalierly he devoured as sustenance.
After that I started going back to church. Noticed the places that fed the hungry. I still don’t know all the people doing all the feeding, but I found out that Trinity Loaves and Fishes makes sandwiches for the hungry of our city.
Real food every day that people can eat. Hot food on Thursdays. I even love the name. Loaves and fishes. One of my favorite stories. Reminds us how the more you give, the more you receive.
Come on Thursday mornings to make hot food or join the Trinity Loaves and Fishes Gala: Meals for My Neighbor on Thursday, May 7.
