This morning as I headed for Stop and Shop, I stopped by the Freedge to drop off some boxes of oatmeal. I was thinking about how that would be a great food for a family. I had images of children at a table spooning the warm cereal into their hungry mouths. The Freedge was empty (Friday about 10 a.m.). There were two people about my age waiting for food.
As I got out of the car, a group of hungry teens appeared from around the corner.
As I drove away, the old woman was staring at the box of oats in her hands. The teens were opening the box and examining the oats with quizzical looks on their faces. One of them acknowledged my gift with a wave and a smile. I’ve always enjoyed chewing dry oats so I’m hoping they got some benefit from them.
I could not forget the people as I shopped for supplies to make pecan pie and cookies for an Oscar party on Sunday night. What would fill their stomachs this morning? What should I have brought? What could I bring? I bought a bag of apples and a bunch of bananas — nourishing, delicious, easily shared.
When I drove up again, the boys appeared. I put the food into the Freedge cupboard. My final sight as I drove away was a grinning boy breaking bananas off the bunch and handing them to his friends.
I’ll do that again. My only two questions are how often and what will I bring.
Carrie van der Laan
West Newton
