Our Visit to the Soup Kitchen

Dear Do the Math Participants,
I just wanted to say how impressed I am with how all of you are dealing with this.  I can't begin to understand what your minds and bodies are going through right now.  Your blogs have blown me away... I feel sad about the fact that this food is making you feel the way you do but at the same time I am left hoping that your stories will help create some change.  It also makes me even more sad to know that people live this way everyday... but hopefully all this work will change that. 

As most of you know I did not participate in the challenge... but I didn't want to do nothing... So when Vicky decided to join the challenge I told her I would take her to the Soup Kitchen.  I have done some work there in the past so it wasn't a place I was unfamiliar with but the experience really did have an impact on me.  Not being able to have a choice over what you will eat and the time you will eat it at is something I often take for granted.  I eat whatever I want when ever I want... but today for lunch (between 11am and 2:15pm) I was able to have pizza and 2 cookies.  There was also pasta salad available but I couldn't stomach it... I have a very hard time digesting pasta..... It was brutal to think to come to the soup kitchen everyday and not choosing what I wanted to eat.  It's an interesting thing to think about having someone else choose your diet for you... and not having any other choice.  I continued to think and well I guess I did have a choice... the choice not to eat something they gave me... but then would I go hungry?  Probably... On the other hand when we got there we were welcomed by the staff and were treated with respect and kindness.  We sat with others needing to use the Soup Kitchen in their daily life... For me, I was left with a very sour taste in my mouth... knowing someone else has a the power over one's diet is a place where I never want to find myself and really no one should find themselves there...

This whole challenge has brought about some very strong emotions about the subject.  Your blogs have really hit home... Again I would like to thank all of you for your time and patience around the issue.  Good luck with the rest of the week... and I'm glad you are all here to support each other... :)