In modern journalism, covering poverty is generally all about the numbers. One story would be the decline of Mendocino County”s unemployment rate to 9.9 percent October 2011 from 10.2 percent in October 2010. Another news piece, with the opposite message, could be a local impact of the steady growth of the poverty rate since the economic crash of 2008.
Mark Twain said there are lies, damn lies and statistics — but there is actually a lot of truth in them. Statistics show that 20 percent of people in Mendocino County lived below the poverty line in 2010. The plight of those at the bottom continues to worsen, even as unemployment and other statistics for those in the middle have marginally improved since 2008.
What about the human impact behind the statistics?
On Monday, I took a spot as a volunteer handing out food to clients, with an eye toward answering a question that seems to me as important as any numbers. How much is this food really helping people in Fort Bragg?
Let”s start with more numbers; 4.8 percent of all U.S. households (5.6 million households) went to a food bank in 2010. The Fort Bragg Food Bank serves 1,010 unduplicated client households per month and 2,400 client visits per month. Food bank use has increased all over the nation as more statistics show the poorest are getting poorer. Local numbers have stayed steady since the big surges in 2008 and 2009.
Observing the comings and goings every day, I”ve seen people who hit rock bottom this year and kept on going. I was surprised at how many senior citizens there were and how many had terribly worn clothes.
The first thing everyone who works the food line does turned out to be anything but routine for me. I looked ridiculous when I tried to get the Food Bank”s largest sanitary plastic glove on my giant hands. It looked like my day might be over before it started; volunteer Carlos Villafanio came to my rescue getting a special stash out of the attic.
“We put those away because we don”t ever have anybody who needs them,” Villafanio said.
I worked steadily passing out food for just one hour, but the line was relatively short all Monday. The Food Bank gets wildly busy at the very end of every month, as people on Social Security and other benefits await their first-of-the-month checks.
Next to me on the line was volunteer Darrell Bailey, who spent 17 years as an employee of Fort Bragg city public works.
“I know about two-thirds of the clients here, from working for the city,” said Bailey.
Bailey traded hearty laughs and stories with about a dozen people, remembering yards, wives and children.
A half-dozen volunteers are posted at a 30-foot-long bar where each one gives different staples, such as canned foods, dairy, grains and bread.
It was my job to make sure clients took just one a bizarre range of about two dozen products, including two pounds of powdered milk, Athenos Greek strained honey yogurt, soy “cream” and even La La Yogurt smoothies. My other area included a choice of different burritos and enchiladas.
While the options baffled me, clients were usually focused; some looked for vegetarian. When a family looked for gluten free products for their child, volunteers were able to point out several.
An 81-year-old man, who was picking up dinner for him and his shut-in wife, told us about her allergies. He told me the enchiladas I offered were much better than the burritos.
“Try those, they are great,” he said.
Most of the clients were not as talkative, or upbeat; most were very polite, a few were brusque.
I saw a man who used to work at a local auto repair shop, who is now unemployed and homeless and yet felt bad about having to take food. A 30ish woman had obviously slept outside last night, based on the mud on her matted clothes and long auburn hair, which looked like it had undergone a first rate perm not too long ago.
What was the whole story? I had to wonder.
Among the stories that tell the human tale of those statistics are several former Realtor colleagues I have seen there. There are a half-dozen former owners of small businesses I see there regularly. There are people who have spent all their money on medical care, who wouldn”t be forced to the bottom under a different health care system.
One woman I have seen over the past several years has lived off and on the streets and looks like she has aged from 20-something to 50-something. She now has a much older man as a partner, her beloved dog and younger boyfriend gone.
Volunteer Donna Byers, who “mans” the door, keeping the flow of clients in the line constant, also acts as cheerleader, acting silly and seeking to get a grin on many down faces. Most give her a smile, especially the guys.
A homeless man who has been that way for years breezed through the line, getting items that don”t require stoves or refrigerators. Another man tells Bailey he is about to become homeless, never smiles and looks miserable.
“Things will get better, they always do,” offers Bailey.
I cringe at how skinny some people who move through the line are. Of course, methamphetamine use can also be a cause of health-destroying weight loss.
There are truly endless human stories here and obvious causes of hunger beyond a terrible job market. It”s unmistakable that substance abuse, mental and physical health issues play a role in some of the lives I saw flash by on Monday. The Food Bank is one place where people feel among equals, not judged by anyone and where they get the food they truly need.
Bailey was doing a sales job pushing Jiffy Pop, those fun little tinfoil creations that blow up into a silver ball when put over the heat. The Food Bank often gets too many oddball items and has to work extra hard to share them.
I like these, but I”m homeless,” said one man.
“It would probably work over a fire,” said Bailey.
“I”ll give it a try,” he said, the two laughing.
Bailey said he hears so much more now that he has more time.
“One elderly woman told me she had gotten a huge water bill and didn”t know what to do about it,” said Bailey.
He told her to try to resolve the issue at city hall, but is seeing life from a whole different perspective now. Bailey and I talk about the pleasure volunteering gives.
“I wanted to give something back. And I really enjoy this,” he said.
Perhaps my favorite number at the Food Bank is that they spend just $1 per client, to provide full sacks of a wide variety of foods four times per month.
“The whole community has the right to feel proud of our Food Bank. Approximately half our cash budget comes from local donations, large and small, as well as many tons of donated food annually. Somehow this has so much more meaning than the proverbial government hand out” [though we are grateful for the significant support were receive from government programs},” said Food Bank Executive Director Nancy Severy.
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 fundraiser runs through Dec. 31.
Donors” names are printed each week, unless you ask to remain anonymous. This week”s donors are J. R. Harr, in memory of Jean Lee, in memory of Nonie and Fred Grass, Barbara Barkovich, Edwin and Theresa Branscomb, Roslyn and Bruce Moore, Mel and Susan McKinney and Max Dym, Alison Cebula, Jeanette Hansen, Trinity Lutheran Church Hope Circle and one anonymous donation.
The amount raised so far totals $5,730.
