It was a whole new experience for me. Before i went, my dad was telling me about the people and the environment. It sounded scary. The people i would see but have no idea what background they're from. They could be drug addicts, prostitutes, crippled and so on. I looked forward to it as a new experience but also felt scared as to actually be in their presence, seeing how they would look when they come for their food.
When i got there, we helped pack food and drinks. We were told to expect about 360-380 people. We also had to peel eggs. haha some were not so in good shape and it was pretty messy. Never had to deal with so many eggs at once haha...pails and pails came. We even got used to the smell in the kitchen haha.
When we started to go down, walking pass the packed place full of people, i observed and took a look around. Because we were all wearing the same shirts and walking together, people started to turn and look. I saw the faces of some of them. Some looked scary, some look really pitiful and the look on their faces weren't very settled in a way. So i thought "oh, so all these people are poor desperately need the food that the church serves every week."
I was put in charge with Tania and Kaelynne to give out bananas. some of them were really sticky. eeuuww haha. We were given instructions to strictly not allow anyone to have the chance to take them on their own or exchange. It wasn't easy. A few old women reached out to take their own bananas. So, we decided to stand right in front of the basket to block. haha.
Well i thought these people would be too desperate for the food and take anything we give them as long as its edible. I thought these people were old and poor that we being there would need to provide for them and show sympathy. After a few observations, i realised i wasn't quite right.
Apparently, these people have no homes. Most of them at least. But my friend and I saw how some of them don't really 'look' like they're that desperate. Some wore nice decent clothes, even had a good build compared to some who really look messy and dirty.
During the briefing, we were told not to talk to them too or show them too much care or else we would be taken advantage of. Which was true. Some took their food and said 'thank you'. Most of them just came, took the food and walked away without a look of thankfulness. Well they've been here for many many uncountable times so i don't know if they still are as grateful.
There was once when a man dropped the egg given to him. Instead of happily recieving a second one being handed out, he walked off and threw the whole packet of food into the drain!!!! That was a scene i never thought i'd see. I was shocked at how this man could behave this way when he should be desperate for the food. Then i friend explained to me why. She said, some people here are grateful for being served but there are some who think that it was the duty of us to serve them well. When things like these happen, they tend to get offended. Then there was another incident where my friend's mother accidently spilled curry on a lady's hand. She was shocked as the lady scolded her as if to pick a fight with her. My poor friend's mom got a fright and she never could forget. Later during our break, she kept talking about how scary that lady was. So yea, the way these people behave got me thinking. Not everyone is 'poor and desperate' and that it would be easy to please them.
This was really an eye-opener for me. We stood serving the hundreds of people there for about 45minutes non-stop. Many a times, i thought ''when is the line going to end?". It never looked like it was going to.
After our group was done giving out food, the other group dealing with the clothing and toiletries still had a lot to do. That was a more difficult task. The information of each person was key-ed into the computer system and each time they were given something, it had to be key-ed in. This is so that the next time the person comes for something, the list is checked as to when was the last time they took an item and whether they actually need it then. For example, if a guy took a big tube of toothpaste a week ago and asks for one this week, he wouldn't get it because that tube was to last for more than that duration. So imagine, it's tought work man. The piles of clothing have to be sorted out too to be packed together under categories. EVERY WEEK. All the cooking,packing,sorting out, feeding and keying in information had to be done every week. Hundreds of people depend on this programme for their meals. It was possible that this meal could be the only meal they had for the week. wow.
There were rare times when there were no volunteers to help on that sunday and the feeding programme couldn't go on. I imagined hundreds coming and realising that there was no food today. After their effort of travelling they came to find out they wouldn't get their meal this week. Really such a sad scene.
Honestly, its tiring and now i know why its not encouraged for younger ones even like me to go for this. The surroundings and location cannot promise much safety. I might go again, someday. Truly was something that got me out of my comfort zone.
I thank God for his blessings and i hope that the programme will be able to show not just how they try to provide for the poor but to show that they do this because God has led them to. The amount of people others stay away from....its too many.
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