Societé Des Champs Elyseé

Today was pantry cleaning day and we had a wide variety of oddities and necessities. TAKIS!

We only had enough for one stop. A totally full load gone in a half hour. 
90% of the people were polite, patient, and thankful.  
But, today’s admixture powder came with an anger component.  There was actual fisticuffs over a doughnut.

 There was a Christian in a pickup truck who thought we should give his church everything so it could be sanctified and distributed by his people who would use it to give glory to their lord.  
BUT, everyone else helped each other. The old hands were explaining the deal to the newbies. In the end, it is enough to know that Chuck and I and the Special Man box are something that people look forward to seeing because they know that if we don’t have it this week, we will next time.  

Today,everyone in the camps were polite and friendly. 
The only scrum/ feeding frenzy occurred around a community fridge involving people who have 4 walls a roof, and electricity. 
But, even though it started out ugly, as we left, they were all trading merrily.  
Summer is lingering and tempers increase with the temperature.  
Everyone, please be extra kind today.  

We carry a box that has the necessities for life on the street.  
Everyone gets a shopping bag for their food and then they get to pick out what they need. 
Choice is so important.  

Today, everyone was polite and happy to see us, but the desperation was palpable. 
When we pulled in under the bridge, it looked pretty empty, but, the line formed immediately.  We had plenty for everyone. Gotta order more socks wipes soap and water.  
The hardest part was talking over the screaming shouting and mumbling from across the street.  
It was not until after we turned around to go home that we saw that the figure writhing around on the ground was a man with stumps for legs. I can’t unsee it. I can’t not hear him.  And, like everyone sitting around him, I can’t do anything about it. 

The good news is that the Saharan dust is gritty in the eyes, but it’s keeping storms from forming in the Atlantic. 
And we are getting daily cleansing rains. 

But if you are homeless, it is just hot and humid. And the state is constantly harassing and moving people around, taking all their possessions. 
So, we are delivering frozen treats, fruit, water, nutritional drinks, and socks and wipes, and are thinking that our Epiphany backpacks might have to be a year round thing. 

Dark comedy moment this morning unloading the Second Harvest truck. 
A whole pallet of Taylor Farm crates. 
All filled with baked goods. Somewhere, a manager is looking at a dumpster full of Iceberg and is rightly proud that they reused all that incriminating cardboard and got it off their loading dock. 
Then, there’s the case of Stranger Things pizza. 

After feeding the camps and filling the Johnson Street Fridge, we had a case of frozen water bottles to set out in front of the house. 
I have watched all day as people stop and take one, maybe two, or a couple more tucked in a bag, but no one takes more than they need. 
If only everyone only took what they needed. 
This week we had a Xmas in July miracle. 
Last year, a local restaurant had a holiday fundraiser and we were designated as the lucky charity beneficiary. There were corporate delays and we forgot all about it until this check showed up on the day we bought 10 cases of water and hygiene and snack products.  
 

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/mardi_gras/societe-champs-elysee-krewe/article_e2a31501-be20-4f71-802e-08c81a502ebd.html?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=wakeupnola&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=headline#uid=

We hit camps and solo folks everywhere today. Socks. Hygiene kits. The Special Man Box of oddities. Frozen water bottles and Otter Pops. 
Everywhere we went we were greeted cheerfully and watched as the people with so little, make sure everyone gets what they need.  
If only the oligarchs could do the same.  

Our community fridge has moved a few times but has found its forever home in a quiet neighborhood cut off by train canal and highway and full of the quiet poor; hardworking people caring for their elders and infirm. 
These pictures were sent from a woman who fills fridges all over the city.