To the Editor:
I’m the warehouse manager at Eagle’s Wings Food Pantry. The WDN has run several articles recently about the state of affairs in our warehouse and the community has responded with great generosity.
I’m writing to give the community a different perspective on my warehouse — the personal side of things.
Each Tuesday, my hard working volunteers (typically 12-14) greet clients and guide them through our renovated facility. We help them select food items they might enjoy. They are given much more than canned goods. They leave us with meat, produce, breads, desserts, and other items based on our stock.
But my volunteers do much, much more than help them select food choices. They smile and engage clients in conversation to try and raise their spirits. They hear many heartbreaking stories about loss of jobs — income — and even housing.
One volunteer, Susan, told me of a young mother of three who gave her a big hug and told her she wasn’t sure – before coming to Wings — how she was going to feed her children that evening.
The outpouring of support from our community following the plea for food brought tears to my eyes. As I thanked those who dropped off food at the warehouse, a common response was, “All you have to do is ask.”
I’m proud to live and work in Washington.
BRYAN OESTERREICH
Washington