We all do our share in helping out various charitable organizations through the year. Some of those actions happen like clockwork…. we do it just because. But some of those we participate in because they are meaningful to us. They touch us on a deeper level. Community Plates is one such organization to me.
I have watched them launch their efforts in Fairfield County just over a year ago, and I have also watched them grow by leaps and bounds across Connecticut. My first thought, when I first heard of them, was - “what a genius idea!” With a team of dedicated volunteers, they are collecting good, edible food that may be otherwise wasted at restaurants and grocery stores - and they are putting it in the hands of folks who may have no idea where their next meal will come from. Yet, despite all their great successes - there is still a lot more work to be done.
Community Plates is holding its annual event this Tuesday at The Loading Dock in Stamford. Food For All is their opportunity to thank all those who have played a vital role in meeting their goals and also to reach out to as many folks as possible and spread the awareness about what they are doing. They are always in need of volunteer “runners” to transport the food - and of course monetary donations.
I know what I needed to know about Community Plates, but I felt a strong desire to understand the other side of this equation. ie: The people and the food pantries that are benefiting from all that Community Plates is doing. I wanted to see the impact this program is having on these people’s lives. And so, I asked to have an interview with one of the tireless and selfless workers at a food pantry in Bridgeport.
Debbie, a wonderful worker-bee at Merton Center Food Pantry in Bridgeport, is being honored this year at the Community Plates annual event. In the words of Kevin Mullins, founder of Community Plates, “She is passionate about the people she serves but is also creative”. Debbie has asked questions like, “ How can I best use these fresh foods to make an impact on those we serve?”
So, I went to meet Debbie in person.
Debbie was upset today…. she had no fresh produce to hand out to her “guests” when they come in tomorrow. What she had was mostly empty shelves, empty refrigerator, empty freezer …. and a handful of canned goods today (those canned goods had just arrived from a local school’s food drive). Debbie hates giving out canned goods because they are mostly high in sodium, sugars and plain unhealthful. Before Community Plates came into the picture, Debbie told me that all she ever had was canned goods. She is so excited that now, once a week, she gets fresh fruits and veggies to hand out to families. Before, she would hand out 3 bags of canned goods, now, thanks to Community Plates, Debbie is able to hand out 2 bags of produce and only one bag of canned goods. Can you imagine how much of a difference it makes in one’s life?!
Debbie’s eyes lit up when she started rattling off the types of goodies she gets now: strawberries, melons, papayas, meats, milk, eggs. She gets about 50 families stopping by for food supplies. Mind you, thats about 200-250 people a day! And its not that Community Plates is not doing a lot - its just that its still not enough. So much more is yet to be done.
Debbie told me that the Community Plates runner brings food supplies every Saturday morning. “Its like Christmas”, she says! “You have got to come by one of these Saturday mornings and see the happy faces of people in line”, she told me. It is worth everything to Debbie. 
Debbie is so grateful for Community Plates that she still remembers the first time they came to her: “It was Oct 21’st 2011”, she exclaimed!
Debbie and her team love to introduce their guests to ethnic foods, pate, papaya … whatever they are lucky enough to get from the local food purveyors. She told me that most of her guest don’t know know how to cook everyday veggies like eggplant - and that she delights in giving them simple recipes to cook such ingredients. She says most guests just want a lot of potatoes, rice and pasta. Because thats all they know. Since it does not make for a healthy diet, her rule is let them pick only one of those three ingredients. How thoughtful! And how delightfully caring
Her guests tell her that they cannot afford to buy fresh produce. To them its a choice between buying fresh veggies or buying basic necessities like medications, or gas for their car or even paying their bills. Can you imagine what it must be like to make those choices which most of take for granted?
Debbie is mindful of guests with diet restrictions. Like the lady who has diabetes and walks in every morning - shaking with hunger. Debbie tells her to eat something before she gets to the Merton Center, but she also knows that its probably not an option. So instead, Debbie keeps bananas out by the entrance - so folks who need food right away can pick one while they wait for their turn in the food line.
I was humbled. I was deeply touched by this wonderful human being and all that she is doing day in and day out. Please help her and many like her by helping Community Plates in their mission.
Come to the event this Tuesday, Oct 1st and say hello to Debbie as well as Kevin Mullins. For more info on the event visit: https://foodforall2013.eventbrite.com
To see how else you can get involved, visit: http://communityplates.org/getinvolved
