As soon as I got home today, I felt like jumping into our dogs little swimming pool, another scorcher for south Texas. In our country, at least once a year, the news will report of a death due to the extreme conditions. Deaths resulting from the fact that air conditioning units and the cost to run them are not affordable to many citizens, especially the elderly. Assuming that the less fortunate have homes, for many the heated pavements are their homes.

Today my classmates, professors and I had the privilege of serving lunch for 173 citizens of the San Antonio down town community. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Dinning Room, located on 928 West Commerce, (adjacent to the SAMMS Shelter), was the scene of volunteers and paid staff preparing the free meals to be served in cafeteria style.
info@svdpsa.org

Sylvia Najera is in charge and she manages to provide meals 7 days a week, three meals a day (except Sundays no lunch), “We never close”, she said smiling. When we arrived about 10:00 a.m., she gave us a brief summary of what our duties would entail, and after a question and answer session we were put to work. Our initial jobs included everything from laying the bread out, slicing tomatoes and pastries to making peanut butter sandwiches.

By 12:30 p.m., Angelica assigned each volunteer to one of the assembly line serving posts. I was the desert server and based on today’s experience pies and cakes topped with pecans were the favorites. There is a specific order of which patrons enter, first, the elderly residents of the SAMM Shelter, then the women and family residents (distinguished by the IDs hanging about their necks). Next, individuals who gather outside, no one is turned away. After the first rush and if there is enough food left, a loud bell (similar to the one Captain Gus featured on his show), rings indicating seconds are available.

The San Antonio Food Bank utilizes huge storage bins for all of the donations that come in. These bins represent the need in our city. “Someone” ends up with those boxes we packed; at St. Vincent De Paul’s Dinning Room, the “someones” are right there in line thanking you for coming to help. I must admit the experience left me with more questions then answers, how, in this red white and blue country could hunger thrive so ruthlessly and indiscriminately. In 1985, Vincentians saw a need, responded and have operated through donations and volunteers.

Am I blessed? Yes.

Hasta Lunes,

Maria, Maria