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Hey, Dripping Springs Neighbors, next time you’re Down Town, running around, putting a little fuel in your fine ride, or going to see the dentist, picking up your prescription at the pharmacy, or getting groceries or a fresh mani-pedi, or taking your dog to the vet, STOP! Take a look around. You have no idea who you just drove past. Maybe it was me, feeling hungry, and invisible. I’m going to the Food Pantry – to get whatever is available for me to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My bowl is empty, my pantry bare, my wallet useless.
I’m broke – well, I had to pay rent, the water bill, and that huge electric bill – all from my social security check. There wasn’t much more money left. Car insurance was due, cable was disconnected, and my bowl was empty.
Approximately 250 families are served by the two Food Pantries in our town – the Catholic Church Food Pantry and Helping Hands Food Pantry at the Methodist Church, where I used to attend before my disability made it too difficult. But ten years ago, when I first moved to Drippings from Wimberley , I worked at the Food Pantry, stocking shelves with rice and beans, canned goods, cereal, spaghetti, bread, milk, eggs, meat – you know, the staples.
Next time you are Down Town, stop by one of these churches and make a monetary donation – 5, 10, 15 dollars, whatever you can spare – it’s tax deductible! And when you do, our bowls will not be empty. But better yet, head out to Ranch Park on November 3 rd , from 11 – 3, and get an artisan-crafted pottery bowl filled with soup to eat.
Admission is $25. You can also have a libation and listen to some fine Texas music in the pavilion. You will see me there. You won’t know my name nor I yours, but you might recognize me from the Post Office or the pharmacy – SMILE! And I will smile back.
And God will bless you for your kindness, and we'll all sleep well with full bellies. And NO MORE EMPTY BOWLS! And as my dear friend Paul said, “They are doing what Jesus did. They are feeding the multitude, the loaves and fishes. And no one is turned away hungry.”
Janice Madden Dripping Springs,
