01/11/2025
A cup of coffee can change the world.
Ok. A slight exaggeration, perhaps, but the simple act of offering coffee and donuts at our monthly Mobile Food Pantry, transformed the atmosphere as recipients became guests and volunteers were now hosts.
Once a month, the McCormick Tribune YMCA partners with Greater Chicago Food Depository to offer fresh produce to our neighbors. No matter how cold or wet it is outside, you can find people lining up outside hours before distribution starts.
Of course, we invite them to wait inside in the warmth of our gym, but it got us thinking about how we could make better use of their time. A small first step was simply to add coffee and donuts, pipe in a little music and say thank you for coming.
And just like that, the "us" and "them" disappeared and a little joy entered the room.
Bryan Stevenson talks about how if you want to change the world, the first step is to change the narrative. While our monthly food distribution is a much needed resource, it won't end hunger or eliminate food deserts.
But by adding a little humanity to the process, we plant seeds of hope and change in each other, which is one step towards a different story for us all.
