Compassion

Our work is simple when the answer to every question is compassion.

Each year, our community food center connects hundreds of people to resources to help them stabilize and move forward. Getting good at helping people through a myriad of difficulties sounds complex. But it’s really very simple.

Sure, some things are complex. It’s complex to know what action, advice, or resource is best: How far behind is the rent? Will the landlord work with us? How can we get to that job opportunity if there’s no bus line?

But the action we take, or the resource we give, is just part of what helps a person keep moving forward. The real thing happens on the inside of us.

Our work is simple when the answer to every question is compassion.

This couldn’t be more true for Chiffon. Chiffon has struggled with homelessness for the past two years with her seven children.

Walking with her, it often seems that there are endless waves of obstacles, preventing improvement in her situation. But, amidst all of this, she credits the power of compassion for her continued determination to keep fighting for her family each day.

“Sometimes, you just need somebody to believe in you, no matter what you’ve been through.”

Unconditional compassion is a powerful force. No, compassion alone can’t always automatically get someone in a home or prevent eviction. But it’s only through compassion that the soul can discover its dignity. When the soul discovers its worth, it begins to live out of that place of worth, regardless of what it faces.

Our community-food approach is simple. Food puts us in touch with people. People are in need of compassion. Compassion empowers us all to continue on our journey.