Empty shelves could mean empty stomachs

Middleton Times Tribune - October 25, 2007
by Dietrich Gruen, Middleton Outreach Ministry

As I struggle to describe what is happening at Middleton Outreach Ministry, words fail me. Imagine that, me speechless. Empty stomachs are hard to picture, so empty shelves at our food pantry will speak for me instead. People across the Middleton community continue to give food and cash to buy more food, yet the demand exceeds the supply. We are not sure about anywhere else, but here at MOM, we are experiencing a shortage that is not going away soon, despite increased purchases by us at area food banks and wholesalers.

"Empty stomachs have no ears." I heard that African proverb again just this week. That is, people are deaf to anything else we may have to say, if we have not first met their basic need of food.

"Where do you get YOUR poor from? Do you have to bus them in?" I heard that question posed to me some years ago, but that came ringing back to my ears. Yes, Middleton area residents, some of your "neighbors" are truly homeless, hungry, or in dire need of help for many reasons. You should know that of the almost 1500 households served by MOM so far this year, about 675 live in Middleton AND were below federal poverty guidelines--that is, less than $17,170 annual household income for a family of three.

"One beggar telling another beggar where to find food." By word-of-mouth the good news about MOM spreads. Just this past Monday, we took almost 50 callers in four hours. At that pace, 500 calls a week are made to this office for one kind of help or another.

At MOM we help rebuild and stabilize lives shattered by divorce, abandonment or other loss. A suddenly single mom needs supportive friends, job counseling, advocacy, childcare, and interim assistance until she achieves self-sufficiency. A single dad with custody of six kids, abandoned by his wife, must stay home, figure out day care and somehow pay the bills when threatened with a utility cutoff. Another dad just out of prison needs a second chance with first month's rent. Likewise a new mom moving into her own place for the first time; she also needs diapers. In every case, MOM is there to bridge the income gap or to comfort the broken-hearted.

That's where YOU come in! You are MOM! You are the hands, eyes, ears, and heart through which our compassionate God still works here on earth. MOM does not exist apart from the hundreds of families who donate their time and talents.

Yet you don't have to give much. A small storeowner in Middleton suggested to me that if everyone in Dane County gave one dollar, our food problems might be solved. That would mean $500,000 for the Dane County Food Pantry Network. Just one dollar--but 500,000 donors. Think of the biggest philanthropist you know giving their $1 and challenging you to do likewise. This may be the only time you can give as much as they do!

If such a countywide plan sounds unrealistic, let's show them we mean business here in the #1 City to live in. I challenge all of you reading this story to give at least one dollar, or two cans, or three boxes of food, even one bag of groceries.

Furthermore, challenge your own neighbors--have a neighborhood food drive and bring it in! The Boy Scouts and Postal Workers do this in the spring, and the Kiwanis Key Clubs of Middleton High School and Memorial High School collect next week on Halloween Eve. From 5-8 pm, Key Club members will be collecting non-perishable food items. The most needed items include personal care items, canned fruit, soup, cereal, boxed or canned meals (Spaghetti-O's, Hamburger Helper, etc.), diapers (sizes 4 thru 6), rice, canned vegetables (corn and green beans), spaghetti sauce, and tuna. Please, no glass containers. Checks made out to Middleton Outreach Ministry are also appreciated.

Neighborhoods where collections will take place are Blackhawk, Foxridge, Middleton Hills, Northlake, Stonefield, and Whispering Winds. Middleton High School's Drama Club will be collecting items in Cherrywood. If you live elsewhere and want to fill the empty shelves you see here, please bring food donations to MOM's Distribution Center at 8710 Montclair Drive in the Middleton Business Park between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday thru Thursday OR 10 am to noon on Friday and Saturday.

One MOM volunteer called the current food shortage "appalling." I will let that be the last word for now. Not only are we short on food, but we lack volunteers for some pantry shifts. Call 836-7338 to help change an appalling shortage into an abundant surplus. Thank you.