I interviewed Donna Byers in 2012, after trying for some time. She told me how she had turned her life around and was enjoying volunteering at the Fort Bragg Food Bank. At the time, she didn’t really want to be named in that round of these Season of Sharing series. She actually dodged the camera a few times, making a game of it. Then one day, she laughed at my persistence and decided that would be the gracious thing to do.
Reconnecting
Her out-of-town son saw her in the online version of this newspaper. Her son. A son she had not seen and had lost contact with. She had lost him during her wilder days. And then he called her after seeing her in a news article. There was a reunion. Over the last two years her big smile has gotten bigger and bigger. Her skin color has improved. She has shared a beloved dog (Sparky) and very old new car with myself and my partner Linda Little. I saw her on Christmas Eve coming from the Food Bank. She had been down to see her son, daughter and grandchildren. He was turning 20 the day after Christmas.
“Vincent gets a little cheated being born so close to the holiday.” She couldn’t wait to call and initiate an old family tradition — a 6 a.m. birthday call and song.
The Skeptics Society says the powerful spirit of giving felt by millions during the holiday season of two major religions is all a mass illusion. Science, in the indifferent and hollow way we interpret it today, is on their side.
I tend to believe in miracles but not Hollywood endings. I see people wake up to experience miracles and continue the struggle that is life. The Food Bank, along with our nonprofit employment service has given me a lot of that. It has made my struggles seem trivial in comparison; has made me wonder how people who fight so hard sometimes fall so hard again and again.
Life clearly isn’t easy for Byers. She was dressed in Sunday best on Christmas Eve as she told me about the blessings the Food Bank and its people still brings to her life. And way more so having grandchildren now on Christmas. Why so spiffy? She was headed to court to help a friend battling an eviction. There were other minor problems, but joy was palpable through it all.
For many an indulgent year, Christmas for me was a thrilling family holiday for opening gifts, stuffing myself and watching sports. During these Obama years plus one Bush year in which I have been immersing myself with the clients and volunteers at the Fort Bragg Food Bank every holiday season, I’ve changed my thinking. There are few miracles for the gorged or for the skeptics. Deliver me from that.
Better to give
The joy I’ve learned to experience from giving to people who have almost no worldly possessions and taking their grace in return, helped spur me to spend Christmas serving dinner to seniors along with the rest of the Fort Bragg Lions Club. This year, my gal Linda and my nephew Jack joined some two dozen other Lions Club volunteers, who served 90 plus meals in Lions Hall on Christmas Day and delivered another 175 to seniors at home
The help was needed, something which greatly enhances the spirit of giving. The Lions started this for seniors, which still comprise about 80 percent of the turnout. When the homeless and others came, we didn’t turn them away. More and more people were coming and wanting to carry out food. That was the line for some. Especially one lady who is a senior and very forward. When do we say enough on Christmas? When do we stop breaking our own rules? It became the topic of discussion. I know from being in the helping trades that the ability to say no is as important as yes, but harder.
Many of the same Lions come year after year. Rand Scott, Cindy Lemas and Tim Gillespie were not there this year, which made it a scramble, but folks do pitch in. We do want the music back next year.
“It’s a big effort and worth it. I want to thank all those people who helped make it happen,” said former Lions Club President Joe Lowery.
Familiar faces
At the Fort Bragg Food Bank, 614 turkey, fish or ham Christmas meals were given to clients.
I spotted one of Fort Bragg’s favorite foodies in line, wearing a Santa hat and spreading good cheer. J.D Streeter pickles all manner of fish and vegetables, selling them at the Farmers Market. He sells pickled cucumbers, zucchini, beets, bell peppers, spicy green beans, carrots, asparagus, albacore and beet-juice pickled eggs. He gets them organic at Harvest Market, not at the Food Bank. He was there to pick up his regular Senior Citizen box and forgot about the Christmas rush.
“I’ve been here 15 minutes and the line doesn’t seem to be moving,” he said. The Food Bank ran short on volunteers and lines ran very long on Tuesday. Turkeys ran out. Then on Wednesday, volunteers streamed in, and nobody waited on Christmas Eve.
“We had lots of fresh produce (potatoes, yams, carrots, celery and onions, apples, oranges, etc), plus a great array of other holiday food (stuffing, pumpkin, cranberry, gravy etc). The two Christmas distribution days were alive with good cheer and lots of gratitude. Santa visited us in our lobby with toys and books for Food Bank children and lots of warm feelings and smiles for staff and volunteers,” said Food Bank Executive Director Nancy Severy.
Circle of sharing
Both the Lions and Food Bank had leftovers, which get shared with the hungry at the end and the Hospitality House. The circle of sharing, among churches, businesses and non-profits is amazing to behold. Blessings move in circles, especially at Christmas.
Volunteers from the Senior Center and the Mendocino Coast Hospital’s Home Health department, coordinated a fleet of drivers for the Lions who delivered or gave out 175 meals for seniors at home.
Mendocino Coast Produce donated $1,000 worth of fresh produce for the holiday distributions. Mendocino Coast Produce, which is neighbor to the Food Bank in the industrial area of North Franklin, gives weekly. North Coast Brewing Company also sends us fresh produce weekly through Mendocino Coast Produce.
Christmas Spirit truly expands within ones own heart when the amount of need increases.
We literally cut it with a knife on Christmas, both at the Food Bank, where I was playing reporter, to the Lions Dinner, where I got to be giver too. Giving is only half the story.
The Leo Club {Lions youth group} decorated the hall for the season, and also stuffed the goodie bags on Christmas Eve.
The Food Bank writing experience has enlightened me on a lot of things, such as that parable by Jesus where the rich man gives a shower of gold coins and the widow gives her last penny. When I heard that story as a kid in church, I felt bad for her and wondered why the Lord would want her to give such a gift. Although I’m neither poor widow nor rich guy, I think I’ve had occasion to feel both her joy and his emptiness.
“We want to thank each and every individual who donated to the Food Bank this season,” Severy said. “Your generosity provided two complete delicious nutritious holiday meals for Food Bank families and funding that will last well into the lean months of 2015. We hope that folks will remember the continuing need throughout the coming year. As always, the Food Bank works hard to put your dollars to work to obtain the largest amount of the most nutritious foods for our friends and neighbors in need,” Severy said.
Season of Sharing
Since the 1996 holiday season, the Fort Bragg Advocate-News and The Mendocino Beacon have raised $322,484 for the Food Bank through the Season of Sharing fund drive. Since 1999, the nonprofit Community Foundation of Mendocino County has administered the drive as a courtesy to the newspapers, which means that every penny donated to the Season of Sharing goes directly to the Food Bank.
How to donate
• By check: Make check payable to the Community Foundation of Mendocino County (CFMC) and mail or deliver to the Advocate-News, 450 N. Franklin St., Fort Bragg 95437.
• By credit card: Pay via CFMC’s website, www.communityfound.org, and click on the Season of Sharing image.
The names of donors who contribute through the newspapers will be printed each week, unless they ask to remain anonymous. The drive runs through Dec. 31.
The total raised so far is $4,401, thanks to this week’s donors: Anonymous, Craig Blencowe, Susan Fullbright, In Memory of Jean Lee, Kit and Sandi Mosden, Edwin and Theresa, and Susan Larkin and James Ehlers.
If you have any questions, please call the newspaper at 707-964-5642.
