In the past several years of telling firsthand stories from inside the Fort Bragg Food Bank, we have sought people who literally embody the story of Season of Sharing to tell it for us. We hit the jackpot in the pre-Thanksgiving rush with Toddia Ouspensky. She is an energetic local woman who comes to the Food Bank only when she needs it. She and her five kids, four dogs and two horses needed help just the kind of family that should bring holiday cheer and giving.
“We would have had nothing this Thanksgiving if it wasn”t for the Food Bank. This is a wonderful place. I was crying the other night about the kids and Thanksgiving and I just decided to come,” she said, loading up on fresh potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, celery and much more.
Her six-year-old daughter, Blyssah, was dashing about and enjoying the big crowd. I asked the adorable blonde little girl what food she liked best.
“Candy, I want some candy,” she said.
Mom, naturally cognizant of the story we”re telling, wanted a better answer. She asked Blyssah to also tell how much she liked turkey.
The girl shrugged, nodded, then dashed off with a giggle.
There was dog food provided, too, and even wilted vegetables no good for people but great for the horses.
“With us, everything gets used,” said Ouspensky.
Volunteers were asking each person how many people were going to be at the table and providing a massive meal capped by a turkey, salmon, ham or chicken to match. One volunteer knows Ouspensky. So she didn”t even have to say how big her family was when she came up with her turkey tag; a 20-pound-plus whopper turkey was waiting.
“The food is amazing today and the people are great. It”s so great this is available to our community for the holidays,” Ouspensky said.
The special two-day distribution before Thanksgiving is the busiest of the year, although a similar distribution just before Christmas ranks a close second. Food Bank Executive Director Nancy Severy said there were 661 Thanksgiving meals provided this year. The Food Bank gives out super-duper meals just before the two big family eating holidays, far bigger and fresher than the average weekly food distribution.
Despite sprinkles and wet fog, the atmosphere approached chaos all day last Tuesday, as long lines built up and kids and dogs swirled among numerous smokers outside. My original plan to write about seniors at the Food Bank and accompany driver Doug Duncan to Moura Senior Housing got nixed when the hectic pace delayed everything, including the delivery of turkeys to shut-in seniors.
At one point, volunteer Jerry Smith was manning stations normally held down by four people.
“I can”t do all this, where is everybody?” he said. Volunteers and staff were moving quickly. At the peak of Tuesday morning”s panic almost everyone was too busy to talk. I try to talk to those I have not interviewed in the past and to approach the first person I see, so I don”t select someone who will give me too sunny a view, but the approach isn”t foolproof.
Actually, the first three people I met when I went to look for an interview all had come to volunteer because they had read articles in this newspaper.
“I read about the Food Bank and wanted to help. This is my first time here,” said Alison Cebula.
I asked what I thought was an interesting question why so few Latino people use the Food Bank. People of Hispanic origin comprise 32 percent of the population in. Just 10 percent of Fort Bragg”s Food Bank clients are Latino/Hispanic was a bit bemused by my question.
Cebula worked packing baskets for shut-ins with Marbella Baez, who also had read about the Food Bank in the paper..
“It sounded like a good place to help out during the holidays and it is,” Baez said.
Around the corner was Ron Hutchinson, who said he had volunteered in the past but was reminded when he saw the Season of Sharing series starting up again.
“I remembered this is the time they need help, so here I am,” said Hutchinson.
Some of the general public always believes reporters search for lurid stories to sell papers. But, outside of TV news, I have seen very little truth to this as a motive, even at big newspapers; nor do most reporters search for promotional opportunities for the management. But we all love to hear that someone is reading the paper, even if they have criticisms.
After I happened to meet three people in a row who praised the paper, my luck got even better when I found the affable Ouspensky.
As a reporter, I love the opportunity to explore a single place year after year as a microcosm of society, especially a place with such a worthy mission. I was afraid of what I might find when I started on this. But the Food Bank has proved to be a nonprofit that goes above and beyond in providing access to their work and their finances.
The Food Bank now posts its full audits and IRS 990s on its website at www.fortbraggfoodbank.org.
So the story becomes an opportunity for anthropological and sociological study of our community; how giving are we, how many of us are poor, elderly and ill and hungry. How are these issues changing? And how many people take advantage of the free food?
Often, people who know me or recognize the intent of pen and paper don”t want to be identified by name. A homeless man folded his arms and stared blankly back at me as soon as I said I was a newsman.
Journalism schools teach students to find a person whose life illustrates the story. This is often called “people-izing” a story and is often used to explain an agency or an issue.
But can any one person represent any story?
Pew Institute studies have shown that reporters too often quote people who resemble them in race, class and gender. Since hearing that in training seminars, I”ve always tried to interview my opposites. But sources, too, like to talk to people who resemble them in class and race, studies show.
Hence the folded arms.
This is why society”s so-called “invisible” people remain unseen even when reporters try to tell their stories. They won”t make it into print, despite my best efforts. These are people who need help the most, whose only good nutrition comes from the Food Bank; some come every year. Others I saw years ago no longer need the Food Bank while others have gone in the opposite direction.
Nicole Major was disappointed to hear people complaining about the wait and even the food and staff.
“I am amazed that people would be grumbling and complaining when all they have to do is sit there for a few minutes and then they get this incredible, awesome meal for nothing,” said Major.
“This place is great.”
Season of Sharing
Since the 1996 holiday season, the Advocate-News and The Mendocino Beacon have raised roughly $284,000 through the “Season of Sharing fundraiser, that had its beginnings as, “A Gift of Peace and Thanksgiving,” to benefit the Food Bank.
Beginning in 1999, The Mendocino County Community Foundation, which is dedicated, in part, to helping local nonprofit organizations, began administering this fundraiser free as a courtesy to the newspapers; this enables all donations to continue to directly benefit the Food Bank every cent taken in by the newspapers goes to them.
“There are many dozens of nonprofit organizations in our area, all very worthy of support, but the Food Bank addresses the most basic problem facing hundreds of individuals and families hunger,” said Publisher Sharon DiMauro.
“We can”t address other problems if hunger isn”t addressed first, said DiMauro. “Every single penny donated goes to the Food Bank. The old adage, “To give is better than to receive” is true, and there is a very real need for charity in our community.
“The goal is to give the Food Bank money it can use year-round, not just during the holidays. It doesn”t matter whether a person contributes through our fundraiser or directly to the Food Bank, the main thing is to contribute and if you”re able, to give year-round.”
DiMauro added that residents are encouraged to contribute throughout the year through cash donations, by donating non-perishable food items, and by recycling paper bags, egg cartons and cardboard through the Food Bank.
Checks should be written to The Community Foundation of Mendocino County (CFMC). Mail them to the Advocate-News at P.O. Box 1188, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 or bring them to the newspaper office, located at 450 N. Franklin St., Fort Bragg, just north of City Hall.
The fundraiser runs through Dec. 31. The names of all donors who contribute through the newspapers will be printed each week, unless they request to remain anonymous.
If you have any questions, please call us at 964-5642.
