It was so amazing watching the generous contributions stack up for the Oregon Food Bank in the SMAA gallery. It was fun to watch you set up tables and chairs. It was interesting helping you sort out the cans from the boxes and to witness the abundance in exodus from the Gallery to David’s office. Then what a treat it was to meet some of our neighbors who came to SMAA for the first time and hear them express their gratitude for this opportunity to give and to help! One man showed up with his kids and said plainly that he wasn’t able to contribute food but wanted to provide labor. Well, he and his family had a great time helping us move that ton of food.

MLK talked of growing up in a community where people looked out for each other, stood up for each other and offered correction, too. He was grateful for the community values that gave him the foundations of strong family, supportive community and a solid education to make his way in the world. From these middle class values he could see clearly that not all were getting the same opportunities and that in fact some were being specifically denied. From his Christian faith and these values he knew right things to do . . . to speak out, to act out, to use non-violent protest to bring attention to these injustices. From his faith and these values he knew some would not like his boldness, his speaking the truth out loud. He knew others would agree with him but not have the courage to stand with him. He knew there were some he could count on to be strong supporters and would stand, march and speak in support of the ideas he was promoting. From his Christian beliefs he knew that what he was doing was bigger than him, his family, his own community and that he was risking his own life and yet with faith and middle class values he did it.

I am grateful for the example and the life of Dr. King. I am grateful for the day set aside to remember with intention his hard, good work on behalf of his brothers and sisters in Christ and his fellow citizens of the United States of America. I am grateful that through this work we were able as a united country to peacefully elect a man of African heritage to the highest office in the land not because of the color of his skin but for the qualities of strong leadership and intellect that reveal the content of his character.

Thanks for the action of community stewardship kids. Thanks for acting out generosity, charing and caring for others in your community.

2,104 lbs is a ton of results! That is a ton of food creating a ton of hope in a time when a ton means something!!

peace 2 u,
Ann H.