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The mamas help girls tuck each strand of hair under hair nets, tie filmy plastic apron strings around small middles.
We play a name game to corral the energy while we wait, each girl designing a signature dance move.
One of the mamas explains that we are there to use our Girl Power, this strength to help others.
This is real strength, after all.
And when the volunteer coordinator comes to talk about what we’ll be doing this rainy October night, a few of the girls explain that we are there to serve and help — packing bags of potatoes at the Oregon Food Bank — to give to people who are hungry.
(In fact, at least one million people will receive emergency boxes from The Oregon Food Bank this year.)
In our state, 92,000 children will eat from the contents of emergency food boxes this month alone — and these potatoes will provide the beginnings of a good meal for some of them.
The bins are deep and the potatoes large — some of them a good four inches across. A surprising number are formed like hearts, and the mama I’m packing brown plastic bags with holds love shapes up for her daughter whenever she finds one. Her daughter does the same, and we smile.
Several second-grade girls act as runners, lugging ten-pound bags from the bins to pallets. Others fill bags and cinch them shut with twisty ties.
The seven- and eight-year-olds seem undaunted by the size of the task, by the bags they fill, lift and run one after another. The girls are breathing hard, and they look so happy.
From time to time, I glance across the room at J who works alongside her friend B, moving from bin to bin. J seems to want space separate from me on this night to do her work, only stopping in briefly so I can remove the fleece under her apron without ripping it.
Her face says pride — the really good kind — and strength and joy. These little hands, callused by monkey bars and wrapped in plastic gloves too big for her, move quickly with the kind of power that lifts one huge potato after another to feed a child we don’t see, but can imagine.
A child just like these.
It’s been a while, but today I’m linking again with an old friend, “Just Write” (an exercise in free writing everyday moments), at Heather King’s blog, The Extraordinary Ordinary.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
“The seven- and eight-year-olds seem undaunted by the size of the task, by the bags they fill, lift and run one after another. The girls are breathing hard, and they look so happy.”
Nothing so energizes us as good work. Especially, response work, emergency work, even when it is chronic, as is this, in nature. I think we are made for it…and we come in contact with our best selves through it…this Kingdom work is where I think we best run without weariness, not away to self and God, but toward need.
Love these images…they will keep a smile on my face all day.
I believe you’re absolutely right, Kim…we are deeply energized by good work and not only receive joy in our focus on the other, but also in seeing our best selves as co-laborers and alleviators of pain, as you say. I also believe that in kingdom work — meeting the acute and daily needs of people in this world — we affirm their value in God’s eyes (whether or not we see them directly), walking alongside our God who works on behalf of all of us, the one who suffered and knew pain.
I love, too, what you say about not tiring when we are doing this kind of work in God’s love and strength.
So grateful for young ones so alive with giving. And so happy to know this put a smile on your face. :-)
Ashley I appreciate so much the manner in which you told this story, with pictures of children so vivid and colorfully alive. And I love Kim’s comment of Running toward Need — that itself a vivid picture I hope never to lose. Another beauty Ashley!
Thanks, Ma. I was so inspired by their energy and strength as our mama backs were aching with the work. Their hope and running toward the need, too…a gift.
It’s great that you’re involving your children in a charitable organization like this from a young age.. it’s such a lifetime of habits in the making!
Yes, Smidge. This heart for service and giving needs to start early. Kids are definitely able to understand the meaning of being in need from a young age — considering their awareness of dependence in their every day. However, it’s certainly something to be taught to choose to look beyond the self. Thanks for your words.
i am sure your little J will always remember doing this. way to go mama!
I hope she does, friend. It’s sure a sweet memory for me, and I do believe we’ll do this again!
This is so cool! Who organized this group work for the little girls & their moms Ashley? What a wonderful experience for all involved, & what a perfect way you describe the experience in your writing…an example for all of us!
The second grade girls and mamas are doing a variety of activities together — under the name Girl Power. We are switching off planning (my dear friend, Kimber planned this trip to the food bank) with our intention that the girls grow in their understanding of what it means to be kind friends who act responsibly in the world. We don’t have an exact motto, but that’s the idea. :-) I believe our next activity is making art for the kids of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in order to bring cheer to their spaces, especially during the holidays when it’s especially difficult to be away from home. We are just kind of figuring it out as we go along, but we’ll have a combination of service activities and friendship growing activities. xoxo
What a beautiful picture of a wonderful experience. How did you get involved in this? I’d love to do this with my kids too.
Yes, Sis! And we’d love to do this with you guys. I was thinking when I was there what a fantastic experience this would be for our families/big family to do together. If I remember correctly, there are only two days of the week (Tues and Sat, I believe) where they take younger volunteers — it’s all based around the work that can be accomplished by people of certain ages safely, effectively, etc. If you go to the volunteer tab under the food bank (I linked to some of their resources in the post), we can get in touch with the volunteer coordinators and figure something out.
Such a wonderful attribute to instill in children. This post shows that generosity–being selfless is FUN. It’s good for everyone all around.
You’re right. It was such fun — not even a bit of drudgery in the work. What joy we can find in giving. Thank you for visiting today!
This story of giving back and doing the work of being present in ministry and serving at this basic need of human nourishment, stirs me. Don’t we crave this hands on helping, really. But oh the chances I have missed to do work like this. I can see your radiant smile right there,. That was the blessing, that and a potato or two. Love your heart coming through your words. As always, friend. As always.
Thank you, dear Elizabeth. Yes, there is something to using the hands, doing simple, repetitive work — not only to help in this moment, which was a powerful experience to share with these kids, but also to remember those who do this sort of heavy, monotonous work each day. Those who pick, those who pack….the layers upon layers of those who bring our daily meals to us.
This is my favorite, Ash: “These little hands, callused by monkey bars and wrapped in plastic gloves too big for her, move quickly with the kind of power that lifts one huge potato after another to feed a child we don’t see, but can imagine.”
I can picture her hands – their hands – and their sweet dancing little bodies and all their energy… and I love, so much, that you are opening your girls’ hearts up to need at young ages. So precious, friend.
Bless you, sweetheart. I loved these big and little hands working together and yes, their energy…so inspires and delights me. (By the way, I’ve been reading more of your blog this morning and learned of the timing of your achilles rupture…oh my, friend. What you know of laying down your own ways.) Thank you for your encouragement, as always.
You do lead by example, and your caring and sensitivity toward the ones with little will certainly leave indelible impressions on these wonderful girls. I know that they will carry forward in their hearts the compassion and joy to aid others. Your acts of kindness will make sure of that.
Thank you, Papa. I’m grateful for the examples given me and for the ways these little ones teach me how to serve with renewed joy.
Life gets so busy, but you manage to stop, reflect, and do what’s most important in yours and your family’s lives. Bless you!
Howdy! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4!
Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Carry on the fantastic work!