Last week, our 8th graders delivered 500 sandwiches to the Downtown Emergency Service Center–and example of our mission in action. We received a grateful message from the Director of In Kind Gifts, excerpted below. To read the letter in it’s entirety, click here.
Thank you thank you for your wonderful donation. I have to tell you how much your sandwiches were welcome when I brought them to the shelter today. When we walked in with the sandwiches, a volunteer was just opening the first of a row of biscuit mixes. Our volunteer was working solo and running late with nothing from the freezer to put out. So she was preparing to mix up some biscuits so that the place smelled good and there would be some snacks later. When we walked in, she said, rather weakly “Oh, bread…” I am sure she was trying to switch gears, thinking what she could do with bread. But I could say “No, not just bread, sandwiches.” Her eyes lit up. “Sandwiches! The day is suddenly fun! I will cut them in halves so everyone can have a bite.” Then we said, “No, we have 500 sandwiches. Everyone will be able to have as many as they wish, and there will even be enough for a late night snack.” Tears filled our volunteer’s eyes, and then mine. This simple gesture means so very much to these people. Enough food that they can eat one or two, and take one and put it in their pocket for later.
So, in that moment, your class’s gesture effected many people on many different levels. For our volunteer, this meant that she could relax and just give service to our clients. To our clients, it meant that today was a bit of an event! Food, enough to fill them, and some for later. Two meals covered, means they can sit and sleep a bit with a full stomach.
For myself, I was effected in that, for a moment, I was brought back to our mission. I have responsibilities that effect a lot of people. I am in charge of food, clothing, household items, hygiene items for over 2000 people in 15 buildings around the city every day. Yes, we serve 2000 each day. Homelessness is such a big problem in Seattle, especially when you
think how many agencies in Seattle there are, and how many people still don’t have basic services like a safe palace to sleep or go to the bathroom.
So thank you. Your kind donation has helped some seriously ill, chronically homeless people to take a break from chasing down their next meal. Your actions have an immediate effect on hundreds of people. Myself included.
Warmly,
Donald Rupp
Volunteer and In Kind Gifts Manager
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