Striking the Balance

“I’m going to save the world “I never knew what those words would cause me to do. When I took the food bank over in 1993, that was my attitude. I was going to change lives, I was going to end hunger, and I was going to give everything I had away. The problem with that mentality is that when you have given it all away, it’s just, all gone. After a few months at the food bank I had done just that, given it all away and I was left with nothing at all for the next time. After not getting a pay check for a month and a half I learned real quick something that I have to remind my staff of everyday “you have to do well, in order to continue to do good”. This one charitable business philosophy has led our organization out of the shadows and to a place when we can meet the demands of all who come knocking.
The key to this philosophy is learning to do the “yes, but.” This means that you will help those in need learn how to get themselves back on a track to success. You move from a welfare mentality to a mentality where you help people find and use resources responsibility. One thing that I have seen over the years in social service is people just handing out resources just to make themselves feel less guilty or to not spend the time to find real resources that will help those that want to be successful move to the next level. True success comes when you align investors (donors) with programs that change lives, not just put band aids on problems. The food bank is a perfect investment as it takes that gift and extends it over the base of agencies. Supporting children, the elderly, the disabled, the working poor, and those between jobs is why I live to do this job every day. Building a strong community is my task not just giving handouts. Striking the balance is the key. Finding that place where you support that family where both parents work and try to raise happy, healthy children. Making sure the elderly get a hot meal to stay healthy, and ensuring that thousands of kids receive a meal at Kids Café, that is the key to changing lives, not just giving a handout. The next time you are asked to help say yes, but I am also going to make sure that you have the real resources you need to be successful

Why it’s worth it

Today was a great reminder of why I do what I do. Today we had a great time in a low income neighborhood feeding children and the less fortunate in this small community in Thomasville. As we watched the children and adults come forward they were truly thankful to have the simple meal of a hot dog, chips, and a bottle of cold water. As I talked to one young man this morning he described that he had not eaten since the free lunch that he received at school on Friday. As I stood there and talked with the young man he ate 4 plates of food and asked to take some home to his brother. When I have these conversations with young children, I am reminded of how fortunate I am that we can help these situations. In just a few months we will be opening a Kids Café to feed this neighborhood every day. Children in this county should never face the issue of hunger when we throw away 97 billion pounds of food each year in this country each year.