Reflections on a Day in Disaster

As I am driving over the road, I have a lot of free time to just think about what exactly am I going to write about this week.

Usually TWRTS likes to stay safety oriented, fun, or informative… today is a rare occasion for us. Yesterday my employer asked me to find a potential place to get rid of about 41 thousand pounds of meat. I know you could feed an army for a week with that, literally.

My 1st call obviously was to the President of TWRTS, to see who was in my area and exactly who needed the most help. We came up with 2 orgs that could desperately use the help. I contacted both, and they were both hoping the company would tell me to get rid of it, so they could help feed thousands of people for more than just a week. It would have been enough to share between both organizations and they were willing too.

Obviously the original shipping customer requested the product be returned to them to sort, it’s theirs so that is their legal right.

When I contacted both orgs to let them know that they would not be getting the donation I was broken hearted by the reply of one, and it made me realize that for some people tax time is when they don’t wonder if they can eat, or they can buy new clothes for themselves. I have always been blessed by not wondering IF I could feed myself, or my family. Which should be the way it is year round for everyone, not just some.

Yes there is state assistance, but that doesn’t go far enough to get everything a family needs for an entire month, and when your job barely pays for your basic needs, you have to make the rest stretch farther. Food banks are another useful way to help but most of those are limited on supplies or they’re trying to help 500 with enough for 200.

The inequality is just crazy, and it’s not racially motivated poverty, it’s like natural disasters, it doesn’t matter what you look like if it’s your turn to struggle to get through the month you’re going to.

By Colleen Goodrich