Pivots and miracles, serving one another

As we pivot from Thanksgiving last month to Christmas this month, I can’t help but think of the pivot that occurred back in March. COVID-19 changed the world as we knew it. Lines at the Food Bank went from the hundreds to the thousands. Supply chains were disrupted and grocery retailers struggled to keep up with demand. We all realized we couldn’t take food or toilet paper for granted. Access to nutritious food became more difficult for many families.

The barriers that keep families from nutritious food:

Income: How much you make determines how well you eat.

Geography: Where you live impacts where you shop. If a grocery store is not nearby and you lack transportation, you shop at convenient stores versus grocery stores. The concept of a “food desert” becomes reality.

Education: Knowing how to prepare healthy recipes leads to better nutrition.

Commerce: Sometimes the least nutritious food is more convenient, less expensive, marketed heavily and tastes great.

In helping families overcome these barriers during the COVID-19 crisis, the San Antonio Food Bank pivoted to increase the number of pop-up distributions throughout our 16-county service territory. We started offering virtual assistance in applying for public benefits, while providing healthy recipes in food boxes and online instruction for cooking lessons. With our pantry partners, we have helped 625,000 of the almost 900,000 people who are now at risk for hunger.

Federal programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, and the National School Lunch Program are more critical than ever.

The USDA brought forth two new initiatives during the crisis: a program to reimburse parents for missed meals at school, and a farmer-support program aimed at rescuing food intended for schools and restaurants and directing it instead to food banks for families. Some of these initiatives will stop at the end of this month. With so much unmet need, I am looking for a miracle.

I experienced a miracle one afternoon when I got a call from a faith-based food pantry run by a couple of nuns. They had placed their order for produce from our warehouse but wanted to ensure they could get two cases of apples, two cases of oranges and two cases of bananas. When I replied we could not guarantee what produce we would have, they responded they thought I ran the place and could make it happen.

Well, I cratered and agreed. They were coming the next day to pick up their order, so I asked our food donations team to make it happen.

Just after 5 p.m., I noticed the team heading home for the night. I asked if they had any success sourcing the produce items. They responded they called several produce companies, but couldn’t get it donated. I thought to myself, they get to go home, and I get to go to hell for failing the sisters!

Taking my salvation into my own hands, I told them to buy the produce in the morning so we could deliver on my promise. They headed home, and I kept working until I would head out to an evening work event. Just before 8 p.m. I packed up to leave. I noticed a man in our parking lot, walking around, pulling on locked doors. I thought he was trying to break in, so I yelled, “What do you want?” thinking that would scare him away.

Instead of running away from the building, he ran toward it. I ran to hide behind our receptionist’s desk. He held his hands up and pressed his face against the window and yelled, “I am trying to make a donation!” I jumped up and ran to the door. He explained that his work event had leftover food to donate. To my surprise, it was two cases of apples, two cases of oranges and two cases of bananas.

An unmet need satisfied when good people respond to their promptings to help a neighbor in need. People pivot from the tendencies to be selfish to selfless, extending less judgment and more understanding. I witness that miracle every day at the San Antonio Food Bank.

If you feel the promptings, take action and experience the miracle. If you have not already, pivot with us at safoodbank.org.

Bob Owen / Staff photographer A mother and son volunteer at a Food Bank distribution this summer. The pandemic has been an exhausting challenge, but it’s also been a time to serve others and sustain our community.