Generosity

Felton is no place to go hungry. There is too much generosity and abundance for that. Those of us who need more produce than we can afford might get the rest of what we need from ‘Food Distribution‘. Neighbors and local stores regularly bring surpluses to the homeless. There is very often excess that must be taken and stored by those of us with freezers and refrigerators.

The big pile of goods that was delivered to the Graham Hill Road Bridge over Zayante Creek almost two weeks ago has not yet been completely distributed to those who can use it. It will most certainly be distributed as the message that was delivered with it instructed. It will just take a bit more time for such a generous contribution. It included so much more than groceries!

Clothing and bedding are often donated to those who can use them. They are not perishable like fresh groceries are. In fact, there is presently some minor clothing and a little bit of bedding in storage. Recently, someone who was emptying out a barn brought a pickup full of bicycles to Felton Covered Bridge Park for anyone who could use one. Yes, the generosity is astounding!

That is not even the total extent of it! (But wait! There’s more!) People sometimes seek out the unemployed around town, whom they can hire for odd jobs around the farm or home. On rare occasion, some are offered more permanent jobs. Over the past many years, a few of the homeless here have even been offered temporary shelter until they found more permanent homes.

Perhaps we should not be surprised by such generosity. Many of us were generous when we had resources to share with the less fortunate. Besides, we all know what sort of Community Felton is.

Food Distribution

No one goes hungry here. Many of us live in poverty. Our lifestyles would be considered to be substandard to most. Yet, we have it pretty good. The generosity of our Community is astounding! Not only is there plenty of food available, but some of it is abundant enough for those with kitchens to can and freeze some of it.

We know how fortunate we are. Not all Communities have the resources to be so generous.

Some of the food that we get is donated by local supermarkets and stores. Sushi that is leftover from the day before gets delivered to Felton Covered Bridge Park a few mornings through the week. It may not be much, but it is often more than enough for the few there to take it. Bags of bakery items do not arrive as frequently as they used to, just because it got to be so overwhelming. Sometimes, there are a few fruits and vegetables.

Neighbors bring surplus food too. Some of it is just canned and dry goods that are getting close to their expiration dates. Some is surplus produce from home gardens and fruit trees. Leftovers from parties and barbecues are always nice!

The most reliable and most abundant source of food is the ‘Food Distribution’ between 11:00 a.m. and noon every Thursday at Community Bridges, which most of us know as Mountain Community Resources, or simply, MCR. Much of the produce there is surplus or culls from local farms. Some canned and dry goods are just getting too old for stores to sell. Of course, there is never a shortage of bread that must be cycled out.

It is unfortunate that there are so many in our Community who can not afford sufficient food. However, it is gratifying that no one goes hungry.