Day 30: Volunteer Voices

Today's devotional is from Amy Russ, an Urban Servant Corps Program Assistant at Metro CareRing. She writes: "Each week, during our morning gathering with all volunteers, we ask that each person would share their name and answer the Question of the Week."

Last week’s question:

“Why do you think people in Denver are hungry?”

“When people live in poverty they simply have fewer options.”

“The cost of living in Denver has risen, but people’s income has not.”

“Healthy food is expensive.”

These are some of the answers given by Metro CareRing volunteers when asked, during our regular morning meetings, why they think there are hungry people in Denver. The same question was asked every day, and every day people came up with new answers…

• “Many people who come to Metro CareRing are caring for a lot of children and even grandchildren as well.”
• “When people don’t have enough money, they often have to choose between paying their medical bills, paying for their utilities, pay for their children, or paying for food. Sometimes, even though this seems strange, food is the easiest thing to cut out.”
• “As much as it is that people can’t afford food, I think people are also hungry because they need support. Many people don’t have the support of friends, family, or their community.”

Whether people had been volunteering for a decade or for only a day, everyone’s answers reflected the incredible complexity of hunger…

• “Our social structures are not set up in a way that includes the diversity of all people.”
• “Poverty is challenging and sometimes, I think, it is a challenge even to have hope.”
• “While people are incredibly beautiful, they are also flawed and limited… and regardless of our choices, we all still need to eat.”

One elementary-aged boy answered…

• “I think people are hungry because the middle and upper class control all the resources and they are greedy.”
  

A young woman who was visiting for the first day with her youth group answered…

• “There isn’t enough food.”

Fortunately, this particular answer is not necessarily correct. That young woman learned, throughout her day of service, that there is enough food.

Day 30. Dollar 30. Pound 30. The generous donations that arrive at our doorstep everyday allow Metro CareRing to continue to feed those in our community who—for one reason or another—are not able to afford food. Thank you for the many ways you continue to support this work and paving the Avenues of Hope for others!