I had no idea. The Feeding South Dakota food truck was something I had heard about, but only by way of a news story occasionally appearing in the paper or comments on our local Facebook community page. I would scan the story or glance at the comments and immediately forget about them. I did not realize how many people count on that truck. Without it they, and members of their family, would go hungry.
On the day the truck was to be in town I just happened to be driving by the location where people come to pick up their share of the commodities being distributed. There were vehicles lined up in three rows nearly filling a large parking lot, with others backed up for quite a distance along an adjoining road. I recalled the starting time for the distribution was one o'clock. I looked at my watch. It was 11:30. People were lining up an hour and a half early.
I was surprised. Are there really this many families in our little town who need to wait in line for two hours just to get a ration of canned goods, cereal and some pancake mix? The answer, obviously, is "yes." Actually, I don't know what was in the boxes being handed out. That's not important. What's important is that there is a tremendous need by a substantial number of families and individuals.
When the truck arrived I decided to talk to one of the volunteers and find out more information. At this point I was only curious and didn't have much thought of becoming one of those volunteers. That changed following my conversation with Marilyn. My first question was, "Is there enough food in that small truck for everyone waiting?" She took note of the turnout and told me it was quite possible that on this day there would not be enough to go around. I found out later there was enough. Barely. I asked if this was about the usual number of persons showing up when the truck came to town and was told it was, but possibly there were more this time. I was curious about who these people are. What are some of their stories? There wasn't much time to talk as the unboxing was beginning so I agreed to accept her invitation and visit the Compassion Cupboard in town where these same people can come for food and personal supplies...depending on what might be available on any particular Tuesday or Thursday, which are the only days of the week it is open.
The following day was not one of the open days but I went there anyway to see if anyone was around and happened to get there right as Marilyn and her husband were unloading some supplies. I helped move the boxes inside and that's when I heard some of those stories. Some related to COVID. Some due to poor choices and bad decisions. And some just plain bad luck. A few got to me, like the one about an older widow who never worked while her husband was alive so her only income is a small amount from social security survivor's benefits. Another was about a young man who had lost his job which meant he also lost his company health insurance and couldn't afford to pay his bills and buy food. Then there was the working family trying to take care of foster children as well as their own but both of their incomes won't quite cover it. The single mom whose deadbeat ex refuses to pay child support or contribute in any way. Seniors who have become guardians of their grandchildren because the parents are so caught up in substance abuse that they can't do it. There are more, including normal hard working people who, through no fault of their own, just don't have enough money to meet their own basic needs or those of their family.
So now I know. And I have volunteered to help out in the future however I can - from donating items to helping unload supplies when they come in. It's the least I can do. Especially now that I have the time. But I don't deserve any pats on the back for being so generous all of a sudden. I could have done this years ago but didn't. I have plenty of excuses, but no good reasons.
I hope those lines get shorter. I hope many of those people coming in can stop coming through that door some day soon and will no longer have to wait for two hours in the cold for the truck to show up. But my fear is that for every one who no longer needs assistance there will be another joining the community of those who need a little help. These are the times we're in. I don't know when that will change. Or if it will ever change.
Roger O'Dea 11/13/2020
