Center for Hope Gives Me a Warm Glow

When we moved here I wanted to get involved in something that would help people, but because I traveled a lot, I was hesitant to volunteer anywhere on a regular schedule. A few years ago I learned about a program that impressed me so much I wanted to be a part of it. The Center for Hope is a non-denominational Christian based community center that provides educational programs for adults, after school kids programs, utilities and housing assistance, clothing and a food pantry that distributes food 2 days a month to families that qualify through the state. And that is just for starts. Sue Otto, the director, has a motto: A hand up, not just a hand out. And that's her criteria for adding programs.


I like volunteering at the food pantry that distributes food 2 days a month. I usually help one day. The people are a mix of old, young with children, healthy, infirm, smart, or educably handicapped. Many (not all, there are a few gnarly apples in every bushel) are very appreciative and happy to be there.


This week was my pantry week and a group from my church went with me, but one day last winter really stands out in my mind. We had taken a new volunteer with us. As Sue Otto, the director, started handing out assignments, she asked the newcomer if she 'had the gift of mercy'. This is actually a trick question, which most of us knew. If you have the gift of mercy it means you will probably find it difficult to say no to a client who wants something they aren't allowed to have. For instance, occasionally we have a few bottles of syrup and boxes of pancake mix. On those days, in the Breakfast section, everyone will get cereal, but only the large families will get an extra apportionment of pancake mix and syrup. A single person will occasionally fuss and ask for it. It is difficult telling them no and making them move on. Sue knows this so if she feels it will be hard for you, she will give you a task that removes you from this situation.

Center for Hope receives it's food from the State. Food is allocated to families based on the old Supply vs. Demand principle. State allocations must be followed to the letter or the pantry will lose it's license. Sometimes it is hard, but volunteers must follow the rules.

Sue also receives a lot of items from local collection groups: churches, school clubs, scouts. For instance, our church collects toiletries and pet food that we send there. Grocery stores give them surplus items. She has more leeway over how those items are distributed. They are put on shelves or in bins in what I call the "Free Select" section. Families of 1 may get 1 item from each section, while familes of 5 may choose 2 or 3 (supply vs. demand, again). Understanding these details will help you understand the predicament I was presented with one day.


A tall, clean, but shabbily dressed man came in for his food. I've seen him there before, but never worked with him. As he went through the pantry he was very selective about what he needed. The cans of meat were welcomed, but he had plenty of pasta. He wouldn't take any of that. Then came the Free Select section. The first shelf had everything from a couple of boxes of pancake mix, syrup, soups, cake mixes, oatmeal packets... My client looked the shelves over and was delighted to see a box of salt! "Oh," he said. "Salt! No pepper? Oh well, I could use salt!" (Do you know how inexpensive salt really is?) We went on. The next Free Select section was a bin of candy. "No, I don't need no candy, " he said. Then we came to the toiletries. He was a single person so he was only allowed 1 item. "Oh man, soap! I could use me some soap," he said. He looked through the bin until he spied the toothbrushes. "A toothbrush? I really need a toothbrush."

It was my turn. Time to push that 'gift of mercy' to the back. "I'm sorry. Only one item. You have to choose." 

It was hard to do. The problem is, the were only a few toothbrushes, and several bars of soap. But there were many more families who would be coming through. As Sue reminds us, we have to be sure there are things left for the last family, too.

It was a tough choice. "I really need the soap. I could use a new toothbrush, too." He looked at me, took the toothbrush and acted like he was going to slide it in his sleeve. "I could hide it in here, couldn't I?" he asked. My heart sank. I looked at him and gently removed the toothbrush.

"I can't encourage you to do that," I said. I held the toothbrush in my hand. He kept the soap. We moved on. He finished collecting his order and I turned him over to the baggers. As he left, I tucked the toothbrush into his bag. "I'd like you to have this, too. Have a good day."


He just smiled and nodded his head.

There are times when you have to hold the line. If that toothbrush had been part of the State allocation, I would have kept to the rules. He would have had to choose, and be stuck with his decision. But that toothbrush came from my church. How would the person who bought it felt if they knew someone who really needed it was denied it?

All I know is that tiny flicker of light I usually feel (see my post on Feb. 19) warmed me like a campfire when I went home that night.

A Flicker of Light

The seed for this blog post was planted on Christmas Eve. I realize we have just celebrated Valentine's Day, but seeds take a while to germinate.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas Eve is the Candlelight service. At the end of the service all the lights are dimmed. The candle is passed from person to person lighting their candles and gradually illuminating the room. At most of the churches I've been to the congregation sings "Silent Night". It is a beautiful, peaceful way to end a service.

In spite of the fact I've gone to these all my life, I think this year was the first time I really grasped the message. As a member of the choir, I get a birds eye view of the passing of the light. I watched as the light went down each row, illuminating each person's face. As it got to the back of the room the light reached into the darkest corners. How often have I noticed that one candle might not make much difference, but a whole church full of candles lights up a room? Well, this year, I saw it from a different perspective.

I am a volunteer. It is in my DNA. I like helping where needed. I don't want compensation. I just want to make a difference. Reality reminds me I am NOT Mother Theresa, neither by circumstance, nor by personality. I am just me.

I volunteer at the Center for Hope in Ambridge. I help there because I am so impressed by the heart and the organization of the Director, Sue Otto. She's not Mother Theresa either, but she is much closer than I will ever be. Her motto is "A hand up, not a hand out". Her method is to look closely at her clients and see what they need and then try to provide it. I go one day a month, because it is a bit of a drive for me. I help out in the Food Pantry on distribution day.

Too often, lately, I have found myself wondering if I do enough. Could I do more? Where? The questions nag at my conscience. Really, volunteering one morning a month is nothing in a world where the need is great. Does it make a difference?

Christmas Eve: the room is dark. One candle is lit. The face behind it lights up. Another candle is lit. Another face lights up. One candle, plus one candle, plus one candle..... the darkest corners are lit up.

I think of Sue. She runs a center that provides education for adults, cooking classes for teens, clothes closet for those in need, tax services, assistance with electric bills, after school activities for kids.... the list goes on. She has a handful of employees. How does she do it all?

With volunteers.

One at a time.

The Missions team at my church has an unofficial slogan: Small acts can make a big Impact. I've realized it is more than just a slogan.

I don't do much, but the truth is Sue couldn't do it without 'me' and the dozens of other "me's" that show up one day a month. I'm just a little flicker of light. But my flicker...with all those other flickers... really does light up the world.