Inside Friends of Night People: Compassion in Our Community

I visited Friends of Night People last week just before Thanksgiving.  The purpose of my visit was to deliver a donation on behalf of a local charitable foundation.  The generous donation will help to feed the hungry and keep the agency stocked for a time.  I am not sure if I should be ashamed to say I had never been to a soup kitchen before.  I didn’t really know what to expect.

When I arrived, I saw a few people starting to line up on the sidewalk.  They hadn’t started to filter in just yet.  But dinner was ready and it smelled pretty good.  The dining area was clean and bright.  On entry from Allen Street, there were racks of coats on hangars, stacks of hats, gloves, and lightly used shoes.  Shelves held various types of food and snacks for people to take as needed.  The director, Mr. Henry, offered a friendly tour.  It’s holiday time and it’s hard to imagine that so many find it hard to put food on the table.  Next time I go, I hope to talk to some of the people and join them for a bite.  I’d love to hear their stories.  I wish them well and a hot meal every day.

-Craig