Over the last semester I was involved with a local food pantry that provides healthy, wholesome foods to people in need. I walked into the experience with an open mind, knowing that I would be changed in some way, I just did not know what way that would be. Mother Hubbard's Cupboard allowed me to give my time throughout the semester to assist the "poor" of our community. As they opened their doors for me to volunteer, I began to see a completely different culture before my very eyes. This was a culture that was full of families, single parents and children who are in need of assistance as they cannot afford general amenities for survival.
I cannot justify with words the experience that I was given. The stories and the lives that are being effected daily brought a new perspective for life in general. Through triangulating multiple facets of poverty through blog posts and papers, I have gained an understanding of a culture that was irrelevant to me and I hope that it can do the same for you. My life and my perspective has been forever changed because of Mother Hubbard's Cupboard and the lives that walk through the pantry daily.
Mother Hubbard's Cupboard
The HUB website
Semester Blogs
Blog 1-Joan Brumberg's "Body Project"-culture
Blog 2- Golden Valley
Blog 3- Portrait Preparation
Blog 5- Poverty Stricken
Blog 6- You Can't Always Judge A Book By It's Cover
Triangulation - Semester Papers
Positioning Essay
Verbal and Visual Portrait
Critical Bibliographic Essay
"Big" Ethnography
Getting Involved
Volunteering at Mother Hubbard's Cupboard
Ride for the Hungry
Food Bank
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A Second Home
Blog 7: Extra Credit
For some people Mother Hubbard's Cupboard is just a place where people that are struggling to make ends meet go to get free food but for many Mother Hubbard's Cupboard is a second home. Throughout the several blogs that I have posted over the last couple of months, I have touched on several aspects of poverty and the patrons that have to deal with this kind of lifestyle. I have shared that some view poverty as a way of life and some see poverty as a choice. Regardless of how you may feel, poverty is happening all around us and we see it everywhere we go but what people don't get to see is how organizations like Mother Hubbard's Cupboard operate. They only know what goes on from what they hear, they don't get to see the inside operation.
Above I have posted a diagram of the food pantry itself from the inside. From the view it looks small and indeed it is but regardless of how small it may be, it sure does fulfill a large need in our community. This diagram helps get a sense of where things are located throughout the pantry and it also gives you a sense of what kinds of things are there. For the limited amount of space, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard serves approximately 130 patrons within a three-hour time frame. The shelves are practically stacked to the ceiling with cans and boxes of food. Even though space is limited, staff and volunteers find a way every day to make ends meet. If you ask them how it all works they probably wouldn't be able to tell you; it just does.
As patrons struggle to make ends meet, they find themselves here at the pantry every week. After volunteering for the last couple of months, I have realized that for some, even if they didn't have to come to the pantry every week they would still come to help out. Many share so much appreciation towards The HUB that they would easily call it their second home. Not only do the patrons come here for the food and the assistance but also they come here because they are loved and taken care of no matter the situation. The door is open for them at all times. No questions, no entrance forms or evaluations, just a simple smile and a hello. Many express that they wished there were more organizations like The HUB in our community. Regardless, The HUB is fulfilling a need in many people's lives and the community is in a much better place because of it. I firmly believe that as long as there is a need, The HUB will provide. It's a pantry and it's a home. It's a place where you can walk in and place your burdens at the door; At least for a little while. :)
You Can't Always Judge A Book By It's Cover
Blog 6: Late Fieldnotes Reflection
As I began driving for my initial day of volunteering at Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, I began to ask myself what exactly I was going to do and what kind of people will be using the food pantry. I immediately began to visualize what people looked like that were in poverty and in need of assistance. I pictured ragged clothes, greasy hair and beat up vehicles, if any vehicle at all. Yes, I realize I am labeling the "poverty" crowd but this is what I did. I pictured both men and women coming in the door with a distraught look on their faces and a sense of frustration that they have to come to a place like the pantry to help survive on a daily basis.
After walking into the food pantry that clear, brisk Thursday afternoon, I was quickly slapped in the face by the vibrant feeling that surrounded The HUB and the smiles that were pouring out from every patron and every volunteer that were there. People were not distraught as I seemed to visualize before hand, they were full of life, full of energy because they were alive and still kicking to see another day. As I was getting introduced to how The HUB goes about its business, I was greeted by multiple patrons asking me how I was doing and how my day was going? Isn't that suppose to be me asking them that question? Why do I feel like this is not what it seemed before I came in the door?
As patrons walk in the door, they receive a warm welcome from some of the volunteers, they receive there shopping bags and then they go shop for free food that continuously gets stocked on the shelves of the pantry. As the patrons carry about their way, they talk amongst themselves just like anyone would do at the grocery store. These patrons of the pantry are just like everyone else. Yes, they may be poor or may need assistance but they are just like everyone else. They are vulnerable, they are weak, they have little money for special items or special events but I'm telling you that they are citizens just like we are.
Before knowing anything about The HUB, I assumed that people that were in poverty dressed very poorly. I figured there clothes would be ragged and dirty because these are examples of people that I have seen in our local downtown community begging for money. But once again I was proved wrong. After volunteering now for multiple weeks on the same day, you start seeing the same people. One gentleman in particular stuck out to me the first week I was there. I thought I recognized him but it wasn't coming together and then finally one day I figured it out. He was my Spanish Professor from my freshman year of college. Was I shocked or what? From what I knew and how he presented himself, he surely wasn't using The HUB for food assistance but low and behold, he was. Every Thursday around 4pm, same time every week, my old professor walks in the door dressed in a button-up dress shirt, slacks and dress shoes ready to shop for his weekly food supply. From the outside you would never know that he would need assistance. The way he holds his head high, his body posture is proper as it should be and he is highly educated. You would never think he would be here.
As my perception started to unfold, I began to notice that I needed to get a new realization of what kind of people use the food pantry. I cannot put it any other way rather than people use the food pantry. Ordinary people that are just like you and me. The only difference is that they are using the services of The HUB and we are not. As I continue to volunteer and get to know some of the patrons, I am finding out that a lot of them have daily jobs, families, and a mortgage; the only difference is that they just don't have enough money left over to buy food. As many of the patrons would tell you, they are only a few pay checks away from getting out of poverty and people that are not in poverty are only a few pay checks away from being in poverty.
Our community has a need and The HUB is taking that need by the throat and squeezing every resource possible to give back to the community. The hungry are being fed and in turn the community is learning how to become more sustainable. The more the patrons use the services at The HUB, the more knowledgeable they are becoming about learning how to choose healthier foods and even learn how to start their own gardens with nutritional classes and gardening classes.
The HUB is more than just a food pantry. It is home to many staff and volunteers as well as the patrons that come on a weekly basis. The HUB is satisfying a need and the response is growing in numbers. The people need The HUB and The HUB needs the people.
Don't just judge the cover, open the book up and read it!!!!You might be surprised in what you find.
As I began driving for my initial day of volunteering at Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, I began to ask myself what exactly I was going to do and what kind of people will be using the food pantry. I immediately began to visualize what people looked like that were in poverty and in need of assistance. I pictured ragged clothes, greasy hair and beat up vehicles, if any vehicle at all. Yes, I realize I am labeling the "poverty" crowd but this is what I did. I pictured both men and women coming in the door with a distraught look on their faces and a sense of frustration that they have to come to a place like the pantry to help survive on a daily basis.
After walking into the food pantry that clear, brisk Thursday afternoon, I was quickly slapped in the face by the vibrant feeling that surrounded The HUB and the smiles that were pouring out from every patron and every volunteer that were there. People were not distraught as I seemed to visualize before hand, they were full of life, full of energy because they were alive and still kicking to see another day. As I was getting introduced to how The HUB goes about its business, I was greeted by multiple patrons asking me how I was doing and how my day was going? Isn't that suppose to be me asking them that question? Why do I feel like this is not what it seemed before I came in the door?
As patrons walk in the door, they receive a warm welcome from some of the volunteers, they receive there shopping bags and then they go shop for free food that continuously gets stocked on the shelves of the pantry. As the patrons carry about their way, they talk amongst themselves just like anyone would do at the grocery store. These patrons of the pantry are just like everyone else. Yes, they may be poor or may need assistance but they are just like everyone else. They are vulnerable, they are weak, they have little money for special items or special events but I'm telling you that they are citizens just like we are.
Before knowing anything about The HUB, I assumed that people that were in poverty dressed very poorly. I figured there clothes would be ragged and dirty because these are examples of people that I have seen in our local downtown community begging for money. But once again I was proved wrong. After volunteering now for multiple weeks on the same day, you start seeing the same people. One gentleman in particular stuck out to me the first week I was there. I thought I recognized him but it wasn't coming together and then finally one day I figured it out. He was my Spanish Professor from my freshman year of college. Was I shocked or what? From what I knew and how he presented himself, he surely wasn't using The HUB for food assistance but low and behold, he was. Every Thursday around 4pm, same time every week, my old professor walks in the door dressed in a button-up dress shirt, slacks and dress shoes ready to shop for his weekly food supply. From the outside you would never know that he would need assistance. The way he holds his head high, his body posture is proper as it should be and he is highly educated. You would never think he would be here.
As my perception started to unfold, I began to notice that I needed to get a new realization of what kind of people use the food pantry. I cannot put it any other way rather than people use the food pantry. Ordinary people that are just like you and me. The only difference is that they are using the services of The HUB and we are not. As I continue to volunteer and get to know some of the patrons, I am finding out that a lot of them have daily jobs, families, and a mortgage; the only difference is that they just don't have enough money left over to buy food. As many of the patrons would tell you, they are only a few pay checks away from getting out of poverty and people that are not in poverty are only a few pay checks away from being in poverty.
Our community has a need and The HUB is taking that need by the throat and squeezing every resource possible to give back to the community. The hungry are being fed and in turn the community is learning how to become more sustainable. The more the patrons use the services at The HUB, the more knowledgeable they are becoming about learning how to choose healthier foods and even learn how to start their own gardens with nutritional classes and gardening classes.
The HUB is more than just a food pantry. It is home to many staff and volunteers as well as the patrons that come on a weekly basis. The HUB is satisfying a need and the response is growing in numbers. The people need The HUB and The HUB needs the people.
Don't just judge the cover, open the book up and read it!!!!You might be surprised in what you find.
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