This poem was transcribed by Khristain, a Bonner Leader Intern, from an interview with Virgina Thomas from an oral history interview about the St. Joseph Food Ministry, Heavenly Groceries
Things like St Joseph’s Bread Ministy
Have really opened my eyes
To
How much food we waste
Or
How easy it is
In this system
To waste food
And
The fact that
The system is sort of
Built
To only provide food
For people that can afford it
At a certain price
And the rest of it
Is literally
Thrown away
It really just doesn’t make any sense
Cause
You might as well
Use it
You realize this food
It’s not just about
The stereotypical
You know
Lending a hand to people in need
It’ s about
Helping collect what
Is still good
Distributing it
But also
Using it
In a communal way
It has a collective
Environmental
Feel
I
feel like the courtesy
That people show
me
and in terms of
Oh yeah
Make sure you take some bread home
Or
These bananas
Or
Whatever it is
I have now
Incorporated that into my own
In terms of like
When I make food for people
I try to make sure
That I make enough food
To like
Send home with people
And I try to make food
To give to people more often
Because I think
It brings a lot of
Joy
“I so enjoyed engaging in that way, the food around St. Joseph’s and the bread ministry. It kind of reaffirmed that form of connecting with people.”
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