NO EGGS EITHER?

     I have a lot of catching up to do! Many things have changed and many have not. Too, it feels as if I see things in greater detail now.
     When I arrived shortly before 10:00, Doug and Crazy had lunch well underway. They were baking frozen pizza—those cardboard pizzas that seem to be an institution there. Doug did put 2 pounds of extra grated cheese on them. That was the entrée. On the side, we served French fries—carbs all around.
     I did visit Lieutenant God last week to ask permission to find and deliver fresh fruits to the shelter. A wary young man, he feigned vague interest and said he'd ask the PR woman to call me. He also said, "Nobody comes in here and asks 'What can I do?'" To which I replied, "I do!"
     My years of experience at this place lead me to conclude that accepting help from "outside" is not something they are wont to do. Still, I'll call later this week to remind him there is NO FRUIT at the shelter—not even canned. I saw no fresh vegetables today, we served no vegetables today, and Doug tells me they no longer have eggs. Hot breakfasts went away with the pre-release prisoner program. A woman came to the counter after lunch to ask Doug if he would make her a boiled egg. Sorry—no can do.
     I think I can afford a couple dozen fresh Walmart eggs for next week... lemme see... that'll cost about $1.25. I've seen the eggcitement before—those folks love boiled eggs. And just wait 'til Easter when the eggs are colored!
     So lunch was gummy but tasty. Dinner was provided by a local church that brings a dish once a month. This month they brought a pasta, meat sauce and cheese casserole that looked delicious. We made up the dinner plates with that, putting a roll and corn on the cob on the side—another yummy plateful of carbs. I did not see the many #10 cans of vegetables that used to be stacked high in the pantry, though Doug said there was plenty of food in the freezer and that Thanksgiving was bountiful… but the mom in me wants to balance those meals.
     Hottie the gatekeeper was there; always a pleasure. Crazy, Doug and I prepared lunch and dinner plus several dozen sack meals. We made PBJs and sacked them with a napkin and a soft drink to put out on the sidewalk for the truly homeless (the street people). Crazy and Doug tell me that only the drinks are taken and that after the bags have been plundered, one can see the sandwiches discarded all along the street and sidewalk. It was this way years ago too.
     We made a dozen meat-sandwich lunches with chips, a snack bar, soft drink and napkin for the people who are working to collect Christmas donations. I forgot to add little packets of mayonnaise and mustard…
     We also made a dozen sacked breakfasts (bagels and cream cheese) with soft drinks. Nutrition is not the center feature of the food program there—not like it was when the government was paying to feed prisoners.
     The little girl was excited to have another can of Play Doh, and the "little" boy declined a gift today, but he was quite happy to see me and very polite.  Late into the lunch period, the girl's mom waddled her short 200 pounds up to the counter and said, "I don't usually do this, but could I have some more?" Of course.
     I saw at least two people today with "meth teeth." Somewhere between when I last worked there and now I have become aware of meth teeth. Observation is a gifting thing.
     Near the end of the lunch hour, a beautiful woman appeared at the counter, posing questions to Hottie who'd come into the kitchen for some fries. This woman is impeccably coiffed and dressed and very well spoken. For the life of me, I cannot imagine why she lives in a shelter, and more than that why she appears so comfortable there? I tried to tell myself she was one of Hottie's peers or a co-worker… but no.
     Anyway, there are eggs to buy and boil for next week, and there is fruit to procure.
     Oh… and rumor has it (rumor is such a fascinating thing) that Mr. A became involved with drug runners and was "probably killed." No one has seen him in a long, long time.

GUESS WHAT?

Nothing ever stays the same! As I almost desperately perused Google this morning for places  to volunteer, I had a sudden urge to call the shelter. Doug was right where I'd left him, and he said, "Come on down! You can serve lunch!"
     I was there within an hour and greeted with a big hug! Then I looked into the kitchen. Crazy was there. I lowered my voice to Doug, "Is he safe?"
     "Oh!, Doug said, "Let me introduce you to our new volunteer; he's sober now!"
     Crazy was indeed changed. We worked together for 2 hours, and I enjoyed every minute. And I gave him ample praise for his remarkable achievement. What a delightful fellow he is now.
     Many, many things have changed. Mr. A (whom I once trusted implicitly) was actually stealing things and committing other crimes. He no longer goes to the shelter.
     The old battered piano has been replaced with one that plays. Doug told me the old one was "broken," as if I never knew.
     The shelter no longer houses pre-release prisoners. According to Doug, the U.S. government decided not to "waste" money on giving prisoners a "halfway" placement. With them went a large government stipend that is sorely missed. Today there are about 37 homeless staying at the shelter, mostly women. We have a little girl, 9, and a little boy 17 (mentally 5)—so those were the only children. The girl wanted a can of red Play Doh, and the boy wanted a box of crayons.
     For lunch, Doug had made a huge pot of rich, creamy potato soup, filled with diced potatoes, butter and a touch of black pepper. It was delicious. On the side, we served chicken nuggets. There were no vegetables, no fruit, no candy.
     Among the many changes, is a new PR person who is never seen. No one is sure how much she actually works, but no articles have been submitted to our local paper (and people need to know that the institution needs funds for the holidays). As for the fruit issue, that too would need to be addressed by the PR person. I would happily visit sundry outlets for fruit donations, but I don't have the credentials. I need to approach Lieutenant God (who is also new there) to see if he can give me permission to proceed. If they need a new PR person, yours truly needs the work!
     There is a new face in the kitchen, a fellow who actually has a real job but just comes there to help; we'll call him Rick. Of course the gatekeeper has changed (another hottie), en plus, there is now a security guard (also gorgeous)! (I'm just looking!!!)
     I do miss those prisoners and their interesting personalities. Most of today's population is quietly poor and missing the basic elements of joie de vivre. We'll have to work on that. 
    Anyway—WELCOME BACK—we've missed us!