Friday Roundup

 If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one. 

Mother Teresa

Good morning, and a happy Friday to all.  We're in for some nice weather here this weekend, and I am looking forward to getting out and enjoying it.  I was thinking Coney Island, but this weekend is going to be packed.  I stay out of crowds as much as I can.  I just don't have the patience anymore.

I stayed home from the center yesterday, and I am not going today. I needed some time to figure out how to handle a situation that happened on Wednesday.  Remember I told you about the peer who comes bowl in hand and gets free dinners to bring home...even though she is now living with her daughter who cooks and feeds her?  It was just last Thursday that they were talking about the Chinese food they had had the night before, and the daughter was talking about the eggplant parmesan she was making that night.  And just as she was talking about it, the cook came out of the kitchen and handed my peer a bowl of food to take home with her.  We hadn't even been served lunch yet, but the cook saw to it that my peer was served her dinner first.

I become frustrated when I see people take advantage like that. And I have seen for myself that the first thing my peer does when she comes in is head into the kitchen to leave her bowl to be filled.  It wouldn't bother me if she really needed the food, but she doesn't.  She is making out very well now.

So, it really bothered me on Wednesday when I saw another woman begging for some food to take home because she had no food in the house....AND THEY REFUSED HER.  Oh, I am so mad.  I wanted to march in and really let the kitchen staff have a piece of my mind, but there are times we have to hold our tongue and that was one of them.  There have been people barred from the center, and in all other respects, I love the place.  I also thought of going to the director, but she wasn't in.  Besides, who knows how she would react if I came in snitching on the kitchen staff?  

So, instead of creating waves, I told the woman that after lunch I would take her to the corner store and buy her a sandwich and a juice for her dinner.  She asked if I could give money instead so she could go store by her house.  No, I do NOT give money.  You never know what they are going to use it for.  And I informed her very nicely that I will not give her cash.  If she wanted what I had to offer, she would let me buy it for her.  Well, she didn't meet me after lunch.  Oh well, I guess she wasn't so hungry after all. 

I was glad then that I didn't act impulsively and burn bridges.  But, I am still upset that they so easily give to someone who doesn't need and turn someone away who does need.  Obviously this woman didn't need as badly as she said she did, but maybe the next one will.  So, yesterday I  decided that I will write it down and slip it into the suggestion box when the hall is empty.  Someone will see it, but no one will know that it was me who wrote it.  I just can't sit around and do nothing.

Hoping you all have a great weekend.  Summer is almost over so be sure to enjoy some outdoor time.