Hanna Clements-Hart shares about where to look for help when times are hard.
The news can be disheartening and scary these days. Many friends in the Bay Area and beyond tell me they avoid the news, or they “cut back” to protect their mental and emotional well-being. I get it. Me too. But this impulse to put our heads in the sand worries me. Now more than ever, it feels important to pay attention. But how can we do that and not feel overwhelmed?
Mister Rogers, the children’s TV host, used to cite his mom’s advice when he saw something scary on the news. She told him, “Look for the helpers. There will always be helpers.” And it’s true. After 9/11, first responders and ordinary folks pulled together. And during the COVID pandemic, essential workers risked their lives to do their jobs. Helpers show up.
Some of my favorite helpers are the people at the food pantry where I volunteer. Every Saturday morning, they show up to unload the food provided by the food bank — pallets of carrots, squash, melons, eggs or whatever is on offer. Thousands of pounds of food are distributed to hundreds of households each week at this and other pantries. In the face of lots of hard problems we can’t fix, serving our neighbors is a concrete way to make a difference in their lives, and it’s a reminder of the many small kindnesses around us.
The pantry has an efficient system for receiving and distributing the food — rain or shine. It was started by some local churches and now has a mix of neighborhood folks, experienced volunteers and first-timers, parents and kids, grandparents, high school students and pantry recipients who are grateful for the food they receive and want to give back. One person brings home-baked goods for volunteers, another comes early to brew the coffee and others stay late to clean up. Everyone quietly does their part, deeply human and profoundly inspiring. It all just works.