Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Day of Service

Today, many people honored the legacy and memory of  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in a Day of Service throughout their communities.  This year, I was able to participate in the activity with my Black Girls Run SF Bay Area ladies by supporting the Alameda County Food Bank (ACFB). 

We were shown a powerpoint presentation to gain an understanding of the food services ACFB provides to the community along with other services they offer.  We were given safety instructions and than we were sectioned off by groups and assigned our sorting tasks.  My group sorted and bagged pears.  There was a mix of BGR ladies and others in my sorting area, but we all quickly began to chat to learn what brought us to ACFB , where we worked, etc as the time quickly passed.   Each conversation flowed with ease.  Later in the morning, we were given an opportunity to tour the facility.  It was a warehouse filled with pallets of dry goods, shelves of food in a make-shift 'grocery store', a huge freezer and refrigerator, and trucks for staff to load food to make deliveries to the community agencies that are served.  I must say, it looked like Costco. I'm not sure what happened, but I found myself tearing up as I thought about my current situation of unemployment.  I thought about how blessed I am that while my situation is temporary, I am not in need that requires food assistance from ACFB.  I felt thankful.  I felt proud.  I felt humbled.  All the while thinking that if I were in need of food assistance, I could go to ACFB for help, with no questions asked.  On some level, I think I was reminded that things could be much worse for me, but they're not.

I'm so glad that I participated in this day of service.  I'm filled with such gratitude that I have great people in my life.  I'm glad that for 2.5 hours today, I was able to make a difference in my community and that a family will enjoy pears that I had a hand in packing.

Today was a good day!

For more information and to volunteer at The Alameda County Food Bank, visit:  http://www.accfb.org/
 

The Other Side of The Desk

 A former co-worker shared the poem, 'The Other Side of the Desk' with me many years ago when we worked at the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network.  With so much time being passed since I've worked at CCCR&RN, I've not forgotten it. In fact, it's been called to my top of mind considering my current life change. 

I've been unemployed for almost 2 months now.  I've applied to numerous positions and received some thanks, but no thanks emails.  For many of the positions I've applied to, I haven't heard a peep.  So frustrating!  I've talked to several recruiters for positions I'm not interested in and I've talked to agency recruiters who appear to have an interest in my background and experience, but ultimately, I have learned that the recruiters have  poor follow up skills and I begin to chase them.  The most frustrating part is that I used to be a recruiter, so I understand how busy the desk is, but I also know the importance of following up with candidates.  As a recruiter, you're told to stay close to the money.  Meaning, work with the clients and candidates that you're close to filling the position so that the commission is earned.  I get it, I swear I do!  However, while the candidate is not currently close to the money, at some point, that candidate will be and they may no longer have an interest in working for you, the recruiter.  

In addition to working with recruiters, I've been dealing with county and government agencies to ensure I am fully utilizing all resources that are available to me as a newly unemployed citizen.  I'm not a regular to these services and have a lot of questions.  I've encountered good and bad representatives along the way.  The nice ones, I try to reach out to get answers to all of my questions hoping they won't refer me to the representative I should really be speaking with. 

All while keeping it together, being polite and kind to the recruiters, county, and state agency representatives, I can't help but think, 'Does this person know how it feels to be in need of help from others?'  

In my heart of hearts, I hope they do and/or don't find themselves on 'The Other Side of the Desk'.

Have you ever thought just a wee little bit
of how it would seem to be a misfit,
And how you would feel if you had
to sit on the other side of the desk?
Have you ever looked at the man who seemed a bum,
as he sat before you, nervous -- dumb --
And thought of the courage it took him
to come to the other side of the desk?
Have you thought of his dreams that went astray,
of the hard, real facts of his every day,
Of the things in his life that make him stay
on the other side of the desk?
Did you make him feel that he was full of greed,
make him ashamed of his race or his creed,
Or did you reach out to him in his need
to the other side of the desk?
May God give us wisdom and lots of it, and much compassion
and plenty of grit,
So that we may be kinder to those who sit
on - the - other - side - of - the - desk.

Author-Unknown