Reflections

Well first off, let’s be honest and say that this was only two days, so really, in some ways, we were even spoiled with what we had, seeing as how places all over the world see people going much longer with nothing.

However, this is North American poverty, which a lot of people can forget about. Despite your neighbourhood, it’s always going on in your backyard, it’s just a matter of how hidden it is.

This was one of those exercises that I didn’t necessarily want to do, especially now having finished it, it is definitely a few days that I could have done without, but I think it was something that I needed.
Talking recently with my friend Chris about a book called Emergency, it scared us into the realization about how unprepared this generation of men could be if we faced a real life-threatening situation. Many of us have lost the resourcefulness of our ancestors in hunting, gathering, fixing things, etc…

Something like this, albeit a very, very small blip on the radar, teaches us what many people past and present have known for years and have dealt with.

It also makes you look at the Food Bank differently. These aren’t just drives and decorated bins anymore, although there are those things. The Food Bank now has the resources to take in fresh fruit, dairy products and meat and distribute them to those who really need it.
So when I was told to donate as if I was shopping for myself, something Kristylee reiterated several times, it is something I believe in now.

When I first saw the box of food, I thought I would be able to get through the two days no problem, but not until I started making meals and stroking items off an imaginary list as I ate them did I realize the challenge in living like this and how remarkable it is that people do this every day, some for their whole lives.

I took the challenge very seriously, never straying from the box, not for seasoning, not for ingredients, not for free food, not for anything. I really wanted to give it a proper try and it was a difficult two days but it certainly opened my eyes. I felt like if I had strayed from the box or wasted any of the food that I would be doing the Food Bank a disservice and taking food out of the mouths of people who really need the help.

I will be writing a full story that will hopefully include blog entries for next week’s Citizen, if anyone is interested.

And congrats to everyone else who completed the challenge, hopefully this exercise helped the Food Bank out to change some minds and raise some awareness.

Shawn

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