Every year in the fall on a football Saturday,
one of our local organizations, the Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach,
looks for volunteers and collects donations for the
working poor and homeless in our city.
Maddy and I volunteered a few years ago, and I had it on
my list to sign up again this year.
So, we did.
This year they expanded the locations and collected
at various large box stores, malls and downtown, both
before and after the big football game.
Our assignment was on Friday night at a nearby mall and
we were doubting how well we might do
when we first arrived as it was pretty quiet.
However, we soon got into a groove and did fairly well.
A few things we noted.
It's getting to be a debit card world.
Loads of people said they only had debit
cards, no cash or change, so
didn't have anything to donate.
Guess having a little "mad money" has gone the
way of the rotary dial telephone!
My Mother told me to always have
some mad money in my purse or pocket.
Also and this one surprised us.
More young people (jr. high or high school age) and young families
donated than older adults.
Of course, we tried to make our plea
personal instead of chanting the refrain,
"Huskers for the Homeless."
We looked at shoppers directly and asked,
"Can you help us feed the homeless in Lincoln?"
Maddy and I think that really helped and made our request more personal.
Side note -- the first time we used that plea, I actually
said, "Can you help us feed the homely in Lincoln?"
The older guy and I both about fell over laughing,
and he said yes, here's some $ for the
homely AND the homeless!
We missed the high school homecoming game,
but it was such a great cause and
worthwhile way to spend a Friday evening.
We hope to have more time to devote
to volunteer work in the future.
