Back at work

Woke up from a strange dream where I was hungry and couldn't find any food to eat, and people kept eating in front of me and saying "Nope! yours is over there" while pointing at nothing.
Maybe I've become more than a little obsessed with food access now. Maybe I've been worrying a whole lot about the hunger of so many people, as I have felt hunger pangs for much of the past few days. Maybe I was thinking about my prankster co-workers messing with my mind as I had to work today. Likely all of the above.

As soon as I entered the kitchen though, my foggy nightmare ended and I swelled with gratitude once again. We do have food. We may be rationing to make sure we have enough to cover all the meals of the week, but, we have enough to cover all the meals for the week.

After tea and 1/2 banana I found out that my oatmeal skills have improved, as today's one cup portion was much better than our first day breakfast. Adding a boiled egg to the meal made it more filling.

 After getting Sasha ready and off to school, I came home to get myself ready for my walk to work. Before I left for the day I made another batch of oatmeal raisin muffin bites, with 3 small muffins for each of us to have as a snack at some point.

Watching all the ingredients diminish from the cupboard shelf can be nerve racking, until I open the fridge and see the leftovers that still offer us sustenance. While I waited for the baking to be done, I packed my lunch and dinner to get me through my 9 hours at work, then ate a snack of 3 muffin bites (from the old batch), and 3 small handfuls of roasted chick peas to energize me for my half hour walk.

When reading the experience of other challenge participants trying to get by individually on the $18 budget, my stomach rumbles in solidarity with their efforts. If Mark and Sasha had not agreed to try this with me as a family, I don't know if I'd have the stamina to tackle it alone, especially while living with other people who continue to eat things you can't.

I hope their are no people on assistance of some kind having to live with others who would eat while they went hungry. I'm sure it is a reality outside this challenge (where it seems common that individuals are trying this out on their own, though living with roommates/family who are not participating. That is ridiculously hard in my mind). The more I delve into understanding the individual human horror that living in genuine poverty is, by listening to perspectives of people who have lived it, are living it, have never known anything else, the more I know that there are a lot more people suffering than need to be.

Goody bag for Ian.

One challenge participant is someone I work with at Britannia Community Centre. Ian is the Food Security Coordinator and you should follow along on his blog if you want to learn about food access in Vancouver. gwfoodconnection.wordpress.com

He's always working so hard to make sure other people are fed, so after reading about his one meal a day to survive, I was compelled to bring him a few portions of our bounty. I believe the challenge rules allow participants to share with other participants, so at work I'm the only one who can share with him. and we have enough to do so, even if only a little bit.

Britannia is a place where needy people seek refuge in various ways. Every morning staff have to wake up all the homeless people sleeping in every available nook and cranny on the site that is dry. Many homeless people use the showers at the pool when they need to feel clean and warm. (Having a Britannia membership, which is $3 for an adult for a year, gains you access to free showers and the dry sauna in the change room, before 3 every day but Saturday). People rely on the library as a place to gain access to the internet, use the washrooms, and relax in a warm spot a while and read to nourish their minds. There are also various programs that help individuals and families, who are working poor, on welfare or disability assistance, or new immigrants needing support in their new homeland.

The Leisure Access Program is a Vancouver Park Board initiative that allows people who qualify as low income or on assistance, to receive a year pass which they gain free access to the public pools and rinks, and discounts on community centre programs across the city. As our office is a place where these passes are processed once approved, we are witness to the ways that access to these community facilities, services and programs can be life changing for people.

Another big thing at Britannia is food access. Ian shared a great post about the people who access his bulk food buying program who come from near and far for the two bags plus that he is able to supply them for $14. And there are many other food access programs that are run through partnerships on site between the schools, Eastside Family Place, and the Britannia Society. I know I'm leaving lots of stuff out here, so I'll try to follow up with links to all these resources for anyone who is following our experience, and could use the help in real life.

To wrap up my first post about work life I'm happy to say that my co-workers were nothing but supportive as always (I am fortunate to work in an office with an array of wonderfull people), and I made it through the day ok. I had two of my meals at work today, including soup (this Carrot/Lentil/Ginger soup turned out amazing, and for me is the best thing I've eaten all week. The ginger piece really was worth its weight in gold for me!) with soda crackers and a few veggy cookies, and then a small bowl of stew with a bun.

  

Back home tonight I see this bag of potatoes as my comfort, just to have it there. We have used less than half, and it signifies the opportunity for more food to eat when we need it, so we definitely won't be needing the charity loaf of bread in our freezer on Saturday. 

Tonight I go to bed with a faint touch of hunger, but my spirit is full of gratitude. 

If following along with our efforts, and the struggles of other participants has you marveling at the difficulty of getting by on so little, remember that this is daily life for too many thousands of people in BC. 

Please sign the petition calling for a rate increase as it is inhumane to expect people to live on $610 a month. 

(Note: I started this post late after work Tuesday night, but finished in the morning as I was too tired by midnight to finish making my words make any sense. Now I'm off to work again, day 4 of the challenge, and I made some biscuits and coleslaw this morning before leaving, and will try to post again tonight when home from work.)