A homeless man said he needed the box of “executive hair dye” to prepare his beard for his next job interview.
A 57-year-old unemployed woman, whose fortunes collapsed along with the economy in 2008, informed the rest of us in the lobby of the Fort Bragg Food Bank that she has never had a gray hair despite her well-known story.
“That”s pretty great when you think about it. Of course, it could happen any day now,” she said.
A Hospice volunteer had brought a basket full of stuff that were deemed unsellable at the jazzy new Hospice Thrift Store just west of Harvest Market in Fort Bragg. There were normal kitchen items but also weird unused stuff from somebody”s medicine cabinet that enlivened the crowd waiting in line. The jovial clients passed around treats like “organic styling gel” and volumizing conditioner, nobody taking more than one item.
Yes, I”m back for my fifth year of meeting, eating and first-person reporting on the Fort Bragg Food Bank as we seek to tell about the local need for food this holiday season and how the money is being spent.
As I began renting the warehouse next door to the Food Bank shortly after the first year of reporting, I have come to know everybody at the Food Bank well, and alas them, me.
I sat among a packed bench full of jovial clients seeking to get a story with a name and striking out like I was in high school and this was the cheerleading squad. The first woman said “I love your writing Frank, but don”t put me in the newspaper.” Another said, ” I have no idea who you are but don”t you put me in any newspapers either.”
Laughter all around.
The stigma of poverty had combined with the fun of teasing the guy in the room who needs something from everybody.
I sulked and looked about the lobby full of just about everything, wondering if I needed any hair conditioner and what it is for.
Since Nancy Severy took over as executive director, the Food Bank”s role has become the place where people bring free stuff. Sometimes it”s ugly. Often its valuable, such as a $3,000 motorized scooter that thrilled a local senior.
“We welcome donations of clean clothing and bedding in good condition — and books (food for the mind and soul). We just ask that people not dump other items here, and especially not garbage. No computers or electronics please!” Severy said.
Severy says the client numbers have remained steady since the big rush of new people after the economic collapse of 2007.
“But those people are having a much more difficult time,” she said. People who were right on the edge have now gone over it for sure.”
Severy said the Food Bank distributed approximately 1.1 million pounds of food in 2010.
“We serve 1,010 unduplicated client households per month. Each of these clients could come as often as once a week to pick up food. We served an average of 2,400 client visits per month throughout 2010,” said Severy.
I bring most of the books, many donated to me by the library or The Bookstore, newly relocated to Main Street, and I am amazed at how many clients over the years actually read the rejected odd ducks from online selling. One homeless man read Chekhov and “Warning to the West” by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, but I disappointed him when he wanted to discuss them with me.
As Matt Miller was outside the lobby taking my donated books for his father who loves crime drama novels, I ambushed him to go on the record.
“This food bank is so important to so many people. The food gets passed around and shared and really fills an important gap,” he said.
Last year, I got a frozen chicken in my bag at the Food Bank. This year, there are lots of veggies, canned foods and breads brought still kinda fresh by the Chico Gleaners —not not enough protein to sustain any whole meals for me.
As we debate the merits of a Robin Cook for dad”s reading, Miller reminds me that seniors get a special bag that includes a nice big block of USDA cheese.
The Food Bank makes several accommodations to seniors, such as a special time for them to get their foods away from the long lines. Seniors” only hours are 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on the three days the Food Bank is open, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Although seniors seem to have gotten a lowered status on the national political scene, I”ve never yet met a Food Bank client who begrudged a senior citizen their special meal bags or cuts in line.
“For myself I love to create while I cook. I can take a mixture of canned and (not so fresh) fruit and come up with a pretty good smoothie,” Miller said.
As we look through Ken Galbraith and Michael Moore discards, I ask Miller about the “99 percent” protests now sweeping the nation including at branch banks in Fort Bragg.
What does he think it means to Food Bank clients who include the bottom 1 percent of income earners?
“I think it does relate. Picketing in front of the big banks makes sense. It”s about community and keeping the dollars in our community. The local businesses support important local institutions like the food bank and we should support those that give them loans,” said Miller.
This year I plan to take a bag of food bank fare to a local nutritionist to get the skinny, the fat, how good it is and how it could be better. I plan to interview “Turkey Dan,” the new president of the Food Bank board, who also happens to be a local singer and pastor.
I will ride with the truck on the pickup route and on the always fun route to deliver food to shut in seniors. We will look at how mental health issues cutbacks and issues impact Food Bank clients and look at the special challenges of providing nutrition to, seniors and children, the homeless and pets. Send your ideas. And don”t be afraid to share a quote or two.
After all, this is the time of year the Food Bank is talking turkey.
At Safeway on Saturday, Nov. 19, the Food Bank will have a refrigerated truck in the parking lot ready to receive your donated turkeys. “Turkey Dan” Fowler of the Food Bank will be making an appearance that day from 1 to 3 p.m. Checks can be made out to “The Fort Bragg Food Bank” and mailed to the Food Bank at PO Box 70, Fort Bragg. Be sure to write “Turkey Challenge” on your check so your donation will be matched. Turkeys can be dropped off at the Food Bank warehouse at 910 North Franklin St.”
Season of Sharing
This series goes hand in glove with the Advocate-News” and The Mendocino Beacon”s annual Season of Sharing fund drive for the Food Bank. The goal is to give the Food Bank money it can use year-round, not just during the holidays.
The nonprofit Community Foundation of Mendocino County administers the Season of Sharing free of charge as a courtesy to the newspapers. Every cent taken in by the newspapers goes to the Food Bank.
Checks should be addressed to the Community Foundation of Mendocino County (CFMC), and mailed to newspaper at P.O. Box 1188, Fort Bragg, 95437, or dropped off at 450 N. Franklin St.
If you have any questions, call us at 964-5642. The fund-raiser runs through Dec. 31.
Donors” names are printed each week, unless you ask to remain anonymous.
