Do to Others?
One of the joys at the end of a particularly challenging 2020 was seeing the reaction of people when Christmas hampers from a local food bank were delivered to needy families. Because of the generosity of the public, not only were the basic necessities provided, but goodies like chocolates, sweets, biscuits and even toys for the kids were also included.
One woman’s face lit up as she saw what was given: “I wasn’t expecting anything,” she said, “but this means the kids can have a Christmas after all!” Another person was literally in tears: “I just can’t believe it. This is beyond amazing. I am so grateful. Thank you so much – you don’t even begin to know what this means to us.”
‘Food banks’ has become a bit of a dirty word among some, as if society shouldn’t need them; and if society was perfect that might be true. But as we know, we live in an imperfect world and, although there are people who mis-use the system, there are others who, through no fault of their own, are left with next to nothing.
The fact is, poverty has always been with us, but whereas families and neighbourhoods once provided a safety-net for those going through a hard time, the increasing break-up of society now means that many people have become isolated, with no-one to turn to, save an over-worked social services. Now, especially with the effects of the pandemic likely to be felt for years ahead, even with a workable vaccine emerging, we can expect yet more people to fall into need.
This is where food banks can provide a back-stop for those (and whichever government is in power there will always be some) who have fallen between the cracks of our social care system. The woman who has fled domestic abuse, the people whose business has just collapsed or the family who honestly just can’t manage without help.
We can, of course, just leave them to it; or expect the huge and impersonal apparatus of the state to provide everything, as it’s easy to blame faceless bureaucrats when things go wrong. But perhaps a better approach for those of us who ‘have’ is just to give a bit extra to those who ‘have not’.
Many of us have a bit more than we really need to live on and therefore we can give just a little to help someone else who frankly has nothing. And I am always amazed and touched by the sheer numbers of generous people who do that.
I have heard politicians deride food banks as a ‘disgrace’. In my humble opinion they are anything but, being a manifestation of the charity that human beings show towards their fellow man, and a sign that society is taking its responsibilities seriously. That people of all faiths – or none – are following the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you’d have them do to you!”
