Yesterday’s Food Bank volunteering was eye-opening. The volume of food that flows through the warehouse is jaw-dropping. Some of it perfectly good quality, and of course ranging from there to a reasonable amount that will feed the local pig farm.
Dave and I were out on the regional run, collecting from nearly a dozen Coles, Woolies, IGAs, KFCs etc. Some had just a hand-carried crate of left-overs for us, feeling like “the token” that gave a bean-counter somewhere the warm and fuzzy “good dead” feeling. Others gave such generous quantity and quality that it had more of a sense of deliberate sacrificial gift to the needy.
Driving towards one of these latter stores (which single-handedly half-filled the truck), I discovered that Dave knows my brother and (I think I got this right) has taught with my sister-in-law when the two of them lived in Darwin a while back. Such a small world.
I did find myself with an unscheduled 15 minute break from packing. Rather unexpectedly. Clambering into the truck with two crates of mangos and of veggies, I plonked them down just as a gentle “clink” sounded behind me, and complete darkness suddenly enveloped me. “Oh,” thinks me, “doors inadvertently closed – no problem, I’ll just push them back open.” Nooooot so fast. It turns out there’s no emergency exit from that particular freezer box. Images of being kidnapped in a James Bond movie sprang quickly to mind… but in my case probably more apt as an Austin Powers parody. Either way, the comedy of the situation was what struck me, not any sense that I might be in trouble. After all, Dave was not 2 meters away, preparing the crates for me to stow in the truck. I’d be out in seconds. Surely?
So I did the obvious and yelled. “Dave!” No response. “DaaaAAAAAAAVE”. Still nothing. I upgraded to thumping the doors – surely that’ll raise attention from anyone within 50m?! Nope. As it turns out, freezer trucks insulate not only the cold, but also, it seems, any sound. 5 minutes bled into 10 and finally 15, before I gave up amusing myself with tapping out “SOS” (thump, thump, thump, THUMP THUMP THUMP, thump, thump thump), and various other patterns. It’s weird really, as there were plenty of other people around as well as Dave. I guess the others must have thought to themselves “If Food Bank wants to hold a prisoner hostage, that’s their business.”
Anyway, finally the doors flung open for Dave to add a few more of his own crates of provision. “Oh,” says he, “wondered where you were. Thought you must have gone to the loo”. That’d be a long unannounced toilet break, but fair enough!
We trundled on, and finished the run. No more dramas, nor interest in my abduction.
Back at the warehouse, the unpacking and sorting was a thing to behold, and an absolute flurry of organised chaos and bedlam. People and groceries going in all directions. It looked like a colony of ants with busy conveyer-belt-like processions weaving in and out, but without the factory-like precision. Zooming in to any particular detail it would be hard to see that there was any method in the madness – but definitely plenty of the madness. And yet, when you zoom out, the flow was faultless, and many tons of food were collected, delivered, unloaded, sorted, and shelved by a team who all knew their own part and worked in (chaotic) harmony, so that by 11am a new day’s provisions had been extracted from supermarkets across the city and readied for charities and the needy to purchase the quality goods for something like 70c a kilo.
A few cheap groceries isn’t going to lift anyone out of poverty, but I can see there are many who are trapped with inadequate finances who will be very grateful for what this team has made possible. Hats off to Food Bank.
I’ll be back on Thursday morning. I only hope we’ll keep the truck open while I’m stacking. I have no particular ambition to be playing like I’m in the spy movies!
Today began with a sleep in and morning run, after which it has been a quieter day in the new house-sit, mostly characterised by reading and enjoying the air con. Might head out for fish and chips tonight, just for something different.
1 Comment
Hi Daniel
We’re currently house and chook sitting for the Oakleys in Kingston while they have a family holiday/adventure in Indonesia.
We donate to Food Bank so have some idea of how great the need is. So much hidden poverty in our nation, especially among older women.
Sounds like you may have to wait for the dry to get you and the bike across the water.
Great that you’re doing so much while you wait. I’m sure it’s very much appreciated.
Every blessing in Christ
Paul.