This Is Me On Food Pantry Days

By Becky Mentzer

           This is me on food pantry days: Hurry, hurry... get there early... too much fun talking and joking and getting to know other volunteers to run in at the last minute... 12:55 works; 12:45 is better as it is 15 more minutes of fellowship to enjoy. After all, it is over so quickly, by 1:20, until the next Wednesday or Friday. Pass up bags of diapers; boxes of formula and baby food and more. There are stuffed animals to hand to the young children waiting in line with their family members. Then it is 1:00 and volunteers in the basement and on the steps start handing grocery bags full of nonperishable food up to the next one and the next and finally it is put in the hands of someone who is in need. It’s a well oiled machine! And a loving one!

When I retired from Illinois State University Honors Program, I knew I would become one of Tina’s regulars. Tina and I became acquainted when she spoke to my social justice class each time I taught it. Students learned what they take for granted – that food is not always easily obtained, that living in poverty means being hungry, that not everyone is treated with dignity though they deserve to be. When the students volunteered at Loaves and Fishes and at Clare House, they gained an appreciation for those caught up in the social justice issues we had been discussing in class – and they were challenged to become more aware and to move from awareness to action. And I couldn’t have been more proud of the ways they did this. I think of my class and my students every time we have ISU or IWU students come to volunteer and I know they, too, are learning life lessons on the steps at Clare House.

Thank you, Tina, for being the kind soul you are. What a wonderful outreach to the hungry in our community. What a powerful way to act on what Jesus taught – feed the hungry. Yes, already just a couple of months into being part of a group of Clare House volunteers, I feel welcomed and one of the crazy crew. And what a dedicated and fun bunch they are. Oh my gosh, I love this place, hugs to all of

you!

THANKSGIVING AND BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

By Bill Tolone

"You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God" (2 Corinthians, 9:11)

Fr. Joe Kelly was the Pastor and Director of the Newman Center on the Illinois State University campus for many years.  He also introduced Tina to the Catholic Worker Movement and co-founded Clare House with her.  Larry Quane, an emeritus professor  at ISU who assisted Joe at the Newman Center has written a book, "Journey of a Faith Community--The Homilies of Fr. Joseph Kelly--The Lessons We Learned, the Lessons We Live."  In his book, Larry stated that Thanksgiving was Joe's favorite holiday.  In his Thanksgiving homily, Joe told us that "This annual celebration has a warmth and richness singularly different than other holidays.  There is not the worry and clutter of gifts, even though that insanity begins in earnest the next day.  There is within the traditional mechanics of Thanksgiving an invitation to reflection, to pause amidst the demands of life to evaluate life itself, to re-embrace the good that has been given and to be thankful for the richness that goodness has brought to each of us."  And, "Thanksgiving has the best chance of touching again the goodness within each family tradition, by hindsight to know anew the blessings of God that are present.  Thanksgiving is a time to be reflective and grateful."  What wonderful thoughts for us to consider as we reflect on the meanings of our missions at Clare House.

As you well know, our traditional mission at Clare House is to provide food for our less fortunate sisters and brothers, and this mission intensifies during each Fall season with our annual food drive.  This year, the demands for food have been great;  so, our efforts must meet these needs.  And, we also give thanks to those who donate food throughout the year.

In addition, for the last 2 years, Clare House has embarked on a new mission.  Since July, 2012, we have become part of the Little Free Library system which has spread throughout the United States and even into some other countries.  You may have noticed what looks like a "bird house" in front of Clare House and in several other Bloomington-Normal neighborhoods.  During this time, I have collected children's books at church and garage sales, along with donations from friends and family, to give to children who accompany their parents and grandparents on Wednesdays and Fridays to Clare House for food.  This has been an extremely rewarding experience for me, for which I am very thankful.  To see the smile and look on a child's face, and also on their parent's and grandparent's faces, is so heartwarming.  Each child and family is special and I've been able to get to know them, and they get to know me, as I offer them a book.  By talking with people in line, I now better understand who they are and what their needs are, which go beyond a bag of food or a book.  A kind word to share the day, the weather, how they're feeling, and how they've been doing if I haven't seen them for some time is worth so much.  And, for this I am eternally grateful to our sisters and brothers in line who have welcomed me into their lives.

As we continue this new "free library" mission at Clare House, I ask all of you to join with me.  If you have children's books that your children or grandchildren have out-grown, please consider donating them to us.  Besides being kind to children and their families, we are "paying it forward" by encouraging them to learn to read which is so important for their future, in school and in life.  My email is:  tolone63@yahoo.com and  I will be glad to pick up your books.  Thank you.

Clare House Annual Holiday Food Drive

Tina Sipula

     This November marks the 19 Annual Holiday Food Drive, when we team up with Extreme Motors, Schnuck’s Supermarkets and Radio Bloomington to raise enough food to hopefully keep our doors open through 2014.  For the past few years, we have raised 9 semi-truck loads of food and we hope to match that again this year.  With your help, we will be able to meet this

goal and feed everyone who comes to our door in need of nourishment. 

   

 How can we possibly raise 9 semi-truck loads of non-perishable goods in less than one month?  It is done through team-work.  It takes a community of caring people to come together and reach out to help those who are less fortunate.  We ask you to put a box out at your work place, your church, your school, your club, your sporting event, your place of business, or go door-to-door in your neighborhood and ask people to contribute what they can.  Even a few cans CAN make a difference!  All of these mini food drives add up to create a warehouse of food that is sorted, boxed, shrink-wrapped on pallets, and then delivered each week to Clare House over the year.  We go through an average of 2 pallets of food a week at Clare House, and

Dan O’Brien and the food bins

each pallet weighs about a ton.  That means we need to raise 104 tons of food to feed the families that come to Clare House each week!  We have done it for 18 years, and we can do it again with your help.

     Food can be dropped off at either Schnuck’s Supermarket or Extreme Motors dealerships during business hours through Wednesday, November 27.  If you would like to help in the warehouse, we need help sorting on Monday evenings.  Call Mike Marvin at:  309-829-1518.  Together we can continue to make sure no one in our community goes hungry.