Seth is one of the anchor paid staff members. On every shift there’re lots of volunteers too. I asked if they need more, and Seth said no, that being hosted at the church means they have enough volunteers—which made me happy because I don’t really want to work more in the kind of work I already do.
He’d gone in the back to get vegan foods to offer me because he saw me turning down meat in the meat freezer.
I’ve been getting meat to make hot-lunch for my coworkers, but even though I do occasionally eat meat myself, I’ve started to feel revolted cooking it so frequently.
Today I’d picked up a 5-lb package of frozen chicken wings—my coworkers would love them—but I couldn’t stand it and put them back in the freezer. They just looked… dismembered! This isn’t Colin the Hand-Reared Chicken from Portlandia we’re talking about here.
As well as the box of a dozen (!) bags of fake Parmesan, I took some vegan “chik’n” Seth also offered. It’s highly processed soy and it doesn’t appeal to me, but maybe I can serve it at work?
so i can understand vilification of donors because of what we see in the thrift world but here are a few of my thoughts. with the bad food that had been received, i would have let the food bank know. it could be that their storage methods may need to be updated or persons didn't follow the process. perhaps their cooling system isn't up to par or is going or that the foods weren't stored properly. bread is one of those things that could have mold growing simply due to other things that would have been beyond control of the donor-- exposure to heat/humidity along the way, someone touched it, not cooled properly, etc.
ReplyDeletei've worked in the food industry and taken classes in food science including parasitology. with the length of the food chain, anywhere along the way issues could have happened. we now have employees who do not know how to handle produce and the fact that it is perishable and easily bruised. it pains me when i see apples dumped for display knowing that they are all bruised and already beginning to decay.
kirsten
ps parasitology taught me how to properly design doors for restrooms so when i see how some places don't, i cringe!
Hey, Kirsten—
DeleteThanks for the excellent thoughts.
Seth, the lead worker, did indeed point out to me that their fridges couldn’t keep cool on hot days especially because people stand looking at the choices inside with the door open.
So, yeah—I think it’s infrastructure training etc.
they’re fundraising for a better set up…
BUT I complain here most,
ya know, because I’m really just angry and heartbroken at the whole overall situation—
that people (my coworkers) are paid so little that we need free food;
That Americans have so much and waste so much;
That we eat such horrible processed “food” that is barely even food!
Etc.
and we KNOW BETTER and we design stupid systems anyway —like—
Ha —bathroom doors.
Sigh.
Overall I like this food shelf and I will take your advice and give them friendly feedback